The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-10-02
Whole Number 1882.
About Sewers.

The special assessment rolls for sewer
districts Nos. l b and are on file with
the village clerk.
In No. b the properties are assessed
at Just about actual cash value and IL
per cent is levied thereon, which makes
the special lax nearly twice as much as
was levied on similar properties in dis
trict No /.
We have heard of no general protest
In this district, as most of the property
owners are anxious for sewerage and
have been trying to secure it ever since
district No. was established. The total
amount of special tax is Sl74.
In district No2 properties are assess
ed high-in most instances above real
cash value-and a special tax of 24 per
cent is levied. The total special tax is
S3,S43. A protest against the construc-
tion of sewers in this district is in circu-
lation, and a determined effort is being
made to prevent this extension of the
system. We Go not blame the objectors,
as the high special tax would be real
hardship on owners of small homes.
The True Northerner has all along
proceeding on an ineq qnitable basis in
the new districts, and we see no reason
for changing our opinion. In district
No. l was included all the business prop
critics and public buildings in town, which
made possible l = per cent special tax
on an assessment below actual cash val
ue. Over half of the special tax of dis
/ +rin - I
and school district property, which all
! taxpayers pay alike, and private prop
erty owners in this district received the
direct personal benefit of this public
burden. Now it is no more than just
that these parties should be made to pay
for the furnishing of sewerage to other
districts at the same relative cost as
they themselves secured it.
The rate of l y per cent on low val
uation was established for the special
tax in district No l, and the same basis
should in equity be maintained as nearly
as possible in all future districts, the
balance being paid by general tax.
In order to accomplish this, it would
be necessary to raise about one third in
|
special tax in the proposed new districts,
and We believe that is what should be
done
The village has gone into the business
of selling sewerage, and it should have
one price to all. 1t would be as Just to
charge the individual for the extra ex-
pense of running electric light lines or
water mains to his property because he
was out of the business district, as to
charge him a double rate for sewerage
for the same reason.
There is grave doubt whether it is
good policy for a village to 90 into the
sewerage selling business at ALL and as
to whether any portion of the expense
whatever should be paid by general tax
aside from providing for the general out
let for the whole system. But the viii
lage of Paw Paw has seen fit to engage
in the business, and there is not the
slightest reason for failure to charge all
property owners to whom sewerage is
is supplied the same rate, as nearly as
valuations and benefits can be estab-
! lished.
1t certainly cannot be contended that
sewerage is twice as much benefit to a
resident of north Kalamazoo street as to
one a block further south, on a prop
erty of the same value, or twice as much
on Cedar street as on Territorial street
and yet that is exactly the proposition
that would have to be established to
| e. ha