Amador ledger., 1905-12-01
incorporation Election.


Next Tuesday the citizens of Jack
son Will be called upon to decide by
their ballots whether jackson shall
be incorporated as city of the sixth
class, or remain unincorporated as al
present. The issue is one of vital
Importance especially to those having
property interests in the town. To
these it appeals with great force, as
they are the ones who will be affected
~ the decision. 1t is nonsense to
contend that those whose all OF
worldly goods is concentrated within
the limits of the proposed city are
less interested in the future prosper
ity of the town, than those who are
not so situated. Such proposition
is not worth discussing. The only
question with property holders is,
whether the welfare of jackson will
be promoted by incorporating along
the lines proposed in the call of an
election, or whether incorporation
will exert an adverse influence upon
the town. This is the only point
that will be considered by those hav-
ing material interests here. Other
considerations will no doubt move
others to vote one way or the other,
but self interest will in this, as other
human affairs be paramount with
those who have interests depending
upon the issue. Those who believe
incorporation will improve the town
will cast their vote for it. Those
would believe it will prove a burden
too heavy to be borne, will vote
against it.
1t is estimated that the taxable
property within the proposed city,
according to the assessment of the
county assessor, will foot up about
S60O,O0 Reckoning the tax rate at
the maximum limit of rs cents on the
SlO0-and we venture the opinion that
if carried on the proposed lines, it
will never fail below that rate-we
have S4500 as the income from direct
property taxes. 1t must be remem-
bered that there is no fixity in the
present valuation of property. By
this we mean, that the city assessor
will not be bound by the figures OF
the county assessor. He can boost
the assessment arbitrarily if he SO
pleases. And his policy on this point
would be governed solely by the de-
mands of the municipality for running
expenses. If the revenue from the
present valuation proves unequal to
the demands, stufflng of the assess
ment roll would be the first remedy
resorted to. Next to the property
tax, license tax would be the next
heavy source of income for the sup
port of the city administration. This
tax, based on the present county
schedule, would yield about $1,000 per
year. Like the assessment value,
however, the license schedule is
liable to change, to meet require
ments. 1t is far more likely to be
increased than to decreased, and
many businesses now free from license
imposition. would no doubt be called
upon to furnish revenue. The road
poll tax would perhaps yield $1,000 per
annum. Here we have a total of
S8500. With this we would have to
meet all the expenses of the city
organization. To many it will seem
at first blush pretty fair income,
and it the city lines we're drawn COM
pactly With desire to economize in
operating expenses, it might be
adequate, without the aid of the stuff
ing policy, to pay actual running ex-
pense. and leave a small margin-and
a very small margin per year is the
utmost, that the conservative friends
of incorporation could reasonably
expect-for permanent improvements.
AS the city is laid out, however, we
cannot see that one dollar would be
left for permanent Improvements
such as sewers and street making.
Ihe running expenses would swallow
everything in sight And in this
opinion, we assume that the local
government will be administered
honestly and economically. We do
not take the possibility OF graft into
consideration.
1t is not difficult to figure out the
proposition. AS rule the cost of
government per capital varies with
population and territory. A COM
pact territory will take less for
government than a widely extended
territory, with the same population.
The state government costs over So
per head; our county government
costs nearly $40 per head. In the
case of the Jackson municipality the
cost of education would be cut out.
This Is admittedly a large item OF
expense. But with this eliminated,
S4 per head is a low estimate of cost
for a government worthy of the name.
That would mean 500 per year.
Now let us particularize a little.