Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-21
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PAVING AND WATER

A great hue ana cry is being raised,
or attempted, over the proposition to
pave South Temple street eastward to
The foot OF the bench. The majority
OF the City Council are not in favor OF
the project for several reasons;
First. the city's portion Of the ex-
pense outside of the cost to the resi-
dent citizens would reach about slO2,-
900. The money is not at hand for such
purpose. and to obtain II there
would have to be an extra tax levy Of
at least two mills over last years as
sessment, That would be inadvisable
under the present burden, which the
great body of our citizens feel Is even
now more than they are able to bear
without distress.
Second, the majority Of the residents
on that street are opposed TO the paw
Ing proposition at present, unless the
cost can be distributed over period
OF several years, to be paid by install
ments. That cannot be arranged for
under the law aud the constitution OF
the State. A contract would have to be
entered into by the city for the entire
work to be done. That would constl-
tute an indebtedness beyond the limit
provided by law. While the residents
on that street would be under oblga-
lions to the city, to pay their quota
OF assessments for each year until the
total was reached, the city, being the
contracting party with the paving COM
pany or firm. would have 10 assume
the indebtedness for the whole sum OF
the expense al once.
Let us now look at the provision OF
the State Constitution In section 3 Of
article xiv:
''No debt in excess Of the taxes for
The current year shall be created by
any county or subdivision thereof, or
by any school district therein, or by
any city, town or village, or any sub
division thereof in this state unless
the proposition TO create such dent
shnll have been submitted to a vote
OF such qualified electors az shan have
paia n property tax therein, In the year
nrecedine such election, and O major
itv OF those voting thereon SHAH nave
voted IN favor OF mourning such debt
The next section presoribes the limit
az such Indebtedness as Is permitted IN
section 3. to be four per centum OF the
,salue OF the taxable property in the
CITY as shown by the last assessment
for city purposes. The city has gone
fully I'D 10 that limit II not over and
therefore cannot enter into the CON
tract for the paving contemplated, un-
less the taxes are raised for the present
year 10 pay the city's part Of the ex-
pense, and an assessment Is levied up
on the property.owners on the street for
the fun amount Of thar proportion Of
the cost.
Il Is suggested that the city could f.
sue bonds TO cover the amount involved
IA making contract for the work un-
der constellation. But the following,
which Is section 212 OF the Revised
Statutes expressly forbsds It;
Nothing IN this chapter shall be con-
strued or held TO authorize any city 90
issue bonds OF the city. either as dis
tfict bonds for paving the streets, or
for paving said street intersections, or
spaces opposite alleys in said city, OF
for any purpose whatever 70 ans
amount beyorS jha> fixed as the limit
OF the bonded indebtedness Of said city
By law
Schemes have been formulated by
friends OF the paving proposition for
the purpose Of eyading the provisions
Of the law but they DO not meet the
express prohibitions against the muni-
cipallfy as 10 running in debt beyond
the fixed limit In section 2S1 Of the
Revised Statutes we find the following
Especial assessment lien. specisl
assessments made and levied 10 defray
the cost ana expenses Of any work
contemplated b the provisions Of This
cBapter. and the cost OF collection