Arizona republican., 1910-01-28
WATER SYSTEM THE CAUSE.
Profit From It Makes Pos sible the Expenditure of Hundreds of Dollars in Improvements Without Additional Taxes

The people of Tempe may thank the
 city water system that their city
 taxes this year will be no greater than
 they were last year, even though the
 expense of the town for the coming year will be considerably greater than
 it was the year just past The mem
 bers of the city council came to this conclusion at a special meeting We'd nesday evening when the tax rate for
 this year was fixed at one mill. the same as it was last year.
 That rate last year produced rev.
 enue of s30O0. The same rate this year brings in a thousand dollars more by reason of hundred thousand dollars increased valuation. The revenue of the city this year will be as follows: Taxes, $4000; licenses, s2.400, making a total of $6.400. It is proposed to spend 5000 on street work. regraveling and other street improvements The sprinkling for the year will cost about thousand dol lars and an allowance of $120 is made for the maintenance of the city park. The balance of the revenue, a little over 5000, will be used. in incidental expenses In this manner is used up the money derived from taxes and licenses with the rate at one mill.
 However. at the meeting Wednesday night Fire Chief Lukin came forward with a proposition to purchase a hook and ladder and chemical equipment for the use of the fire department. He presented this demand in such a forcible manner that the council was impressed with the wisdom of it and decided to make the purchase. This additional thousand dollars. though. requires a higher rate of taxation. In order to raise it the rate would have to be Is mills instead of 1 mill. Here it is that the water system comes to the rescue.
 Upon looking carefully into the mat ter it was found that the water fund could nicely spare this thousand dol lars beside paying up the indebtedness recently incurred in extending the system through the new Gage addition and at the same time the $75 per month that is put in the sinking fund would not be touched. This plan was finally adopted and 1t is on account of lilt plOiit UetiNtu IToIl ltUipt Spltn- did water system that the taxes of this year are no greater than they were a year ago while considerable more will be spent in improvements.
 The people Of Tempe have just cause to be proud of this water sys- tenn. With its aid the city is operated in manner that cannot be criticised and the tax rate is the lowest of any town in the territory Sister towns l of the valley are paying rate double. l and in some cases more than double | the Tempe rate, and at the same time | their streets are not kept in the good | that those of Tempe are
 As an illustration of the splendid l success of the water system, it may | be pointed out that the system now has in the sinking fund and loaned | put on interest a little over $10,000. 1 The first ten thousand dollars worth | of bonds will mature in about two | years and already the money to pay | them off is on hand and drawing in | terest. No wonder Tempe people | rightly think that this is just little | pit the best town in the southwest.