The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-23
County Commissioners VIII Use
Money to Pay Debts.
will Take Up SI93, 900 Within
Two Years.
NO INCREASE OF LEVY
Is to Be Left as 1t Was Last
Year.
Policy of Board Is to Reduce
County Indebtedness.

70 If the present intentions of the
county commissioners are carried out
no Kansas river bridges will be built
this year and no new macadam roads
will be built.
There will be due $19s. 900 in Shaw
NEE county bonds within two and a
half years. If these are paid off, in
stead of being refunded. the saving to
the county in interest will be S11, 900
a year. It is with the idea of making
this saving that the commissioners
have decided to make every effort
possible toward the paying off of the
countys Indebtedness.
The policy of the board for several
years has been to clear up the indebt-
edness of Shawnee county. In 1898,
$4,000 worth of bonds and bridge
script was taken up. The year before
the commissioners paid SIS, 600 worth
Of bonds.
In December, 1905, the K. N. & D.
railroad bonds, drawing per cR1lt in
terest and amounting to $4,000, will
De due. In January, 1907, there Will
be due $4,000 of G. r. I. & P. rail-
road bonds which are drawing 5 u
per cent interest. The interest on
these two Issues amounts to $1,000 a
year. The saving in annual interest
already made by the paying off of the
$4,000 and $68,000 of bonds amounts
to about $4,000 a year, which with
the saving of $1,000 a year in inter
est will give the county $4,000 an
nually to be expended for other pur-
poses besides the saving in the levy
to be made each year for the sinking
FUNDS.
The county commissioners will not
increase the Shawnee county tax levy
this year. The levy now is 1894 mills
and it will remain at that figure, but
the different leVies, which make up the
total, will be changed. The general
revenue levy is now 4 mills; the levy
for the support of the poor is 1 mill;
for the Kansas river bridge fund Is
mills; K n & D railroad bonds II
mills; c. K & N. railroad bonds L
mill; Shawnee county court house
bonds %; Kansas avenue bridge
bonds .O5; Kansas avenue bridge
bonds interest Ola.
When the board decides on the Ievies to
be made for this year it is likely that no
levies will be made for the permanent
road, fund nor the bridge fund, but that
K. and n railroad bond funs will be in
creased. The total levy of 1854 miles made
Tor 1904. No levy for the permanent road
fund was made in 1903.
County Commissioner Sterne said to-
day; The policy of the board of coun-
" commissioners is to clear up the in
without increasing the total tax levy
means that expenses must be kept down.
Inc poafu VIII nave an issue OF $14,0O0 OF
Tailroad bonds coming due in December,
1906, and S119,0 due in January, 1907. These
come pretty close together. Paying them
on means a saving of $1,000 a year in in
terest The board does not wish to refund
them, but to pay them and save this
large amount of interest.
To do this it will be necessary to con-
solidate the bridge fund and the perma-
nent road fund with the sinking and in
terest funds of these bonds already and
to be accumulated and pay them off. If
the people will be patient with the board
] these D.
instead of refunding them, and to do it
without increasing the tax levy of the
county.
when these bonds are paid off it will
no longer be necessary to make 1evies
Tor the bond and sinking and interest
FUNDS. The saving to the county will be
so great that with the present tax levy
and without making any increase the
county will be able to make what i'm
provements are wanted and to pay for
them in cash without making any bond is
sues"