The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-05-26
stlu Under Consideration.


GRAFTON with new feature injected in
to the foreground. This is in the form
Z of two new ordinances, one introduced
by Aid. Lamfrom, the other by Aid.
Lamb. The. ordinance. submitted by
the former carries $47, 800, the one sub
mitted by the latter carries $50, 700.
The difference, SO, 900 or almost three
thousand dollars, may not seem so very
great but the principles involved are the
same as though the amount was even
greater
But even this is enough this year.
The losses sustained recently by many
taxpayers have already been mentioned
more than once as furnishing reasons
for maintaining the strictest economy
on the part of the city this year but
there are other reasons as well. Tax
payers in general will recall that the
state tax is heavy one year and COM
paratively light the next The present
year is the heavy year on the state tax
account. Next year will be lighter
again but that thought will scarcely
help the taxpayer in meeting his this
years obligations. Another gentle hint
might be dropped. From present indi-
cations the county tax which. will ap-
pear on the rolls this year will not be
the smallest in the history of the
county. Every consideration, from
whatever point of view the matter be
looked at, emphasizes the demand that
no point be overlooked where any saw
ing of the city expense for the coming
year can be accomplished.
The greatest increase proposed by the
new ordinance as submitted is in the
item of the water fund which is in
creased by $4,000. This increase is pro-
posed in the the face of the fact that
the taxpayers voted down at the spring
election proposition for raising more
money this year for extending water
mains. | AS pointed out before, however,
with the amount asked for by the Lam
from ordinance, extensions can be made
where most needed and where enough
is cared for the service to guarantee
paying revenue from the same at once.
And with proper economy along other
without increasing the total amount
raised. For highway fund the second
ordinance proposes an additional thou
sand dollars which can be dispensed
with and which, according to the well
thought out plans of some in position
to know should not be added to the
burdens of taxpayers this year
The other points of difference are
minor ones but the consideration of
these two alone should be enough to
convince the aldermen that the ordi-
nance presented Monday night by Aid
erman Lamfrom should be passed.
Every alderman elected this year was
elected on platform calling for a re-
duction in the budget for this year.
The taxpayers of the city have a right
to expect them to make every attempt
to carry out their pledges for reduced
budget. The proposed budget of $47,-
800 is more than sufficient to carry the
city through the next fiscal year if ex-
penditures are carefully scrutinized. 1t
is not cut down as low as it might be
simply to avoid any danger of running
out of funds but it is down to a figure |
which is reasonable and economical,
and amply sufficient. And there is no |
reason for any members of the council
insisting on adding even $50 dollars
to it.
Aldermen Lamfrom, Rigley, Nichols
and Watson are absolutely in the right |
in the position they have taken to keep
the budget down. Stand by your posi-
ton. gentlemen.