Amador ledger., 1910-02-11
The Ledger's Forecast
Of Incorporation


II is estimated that the taxable pro-
perty within the proposed city, accord
ing to the assessment of the county as
SCISSOR, will foot up about 5000, 600.
Reckoning the tax rate at the maximum
limit Of IS cents on the Sl00-and we
venture the opinion that IL carried on
the proposed lines, it will never fall
below the rate-we have $4500 as the
income from direct property taxes. 1t
must be remembered there is ne 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 as
sessment arbitrarily II he so pleases.
And his policy on this point would be
governed solely by the demands OF the
municipality for running expenses. II
the revenue from the present valuation
proves unequal to the demands, stuff
ing OF the assessment 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
support 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 requirements. 1t is
far more likely to be increased than be
decreased, and many businesses now
free from license imposition, swould no
doubt be called upon to furnish revenue.
The road poll tax would perhaps yield
$1,000 per annum. Here we have total
OF $500. With this we would have to
meet all the expenses Of the city organi
zation. To many it would seem at
first blush pretty fair income, and il
the city lines were drawn compactly
with desire to economic in operating
expenses, it might be adequate, without
the aid OF the stuffing policy, TO pay
actual running expenses, and leave
small margin-and very small margin
per year is the utmost that the conser-
vative friends of incorporation would
reasonably expect-for permanent inn
provements. AS the city is laid out,
however, we cannot see that one dollar
would be left for permanent improve
ments-such as sewers and street
making. The running expenses would
swallow everything in sight And in
this opinion, we assume that the loca
government will be administered
honestly and economically. We do not
take the possibility Of graft into con-
sderation
1t is not difficult to figure out the pro-
position. AS rule the cost of govern
ment per capital varies with population
and territory. A compact territory will
take less for government than widely
extended territory, with the same
population. The state government costs
over SIS per head; our county govern
ment costs nearly $40 per head. In the
case of the Jackson municipality the
cost of education would BE- cut out.
This is admittedly large item of ex-
pense. But with this eliminated, $4 per
head is low estimate of cost for a
government worthy of the name. That
would mean $40, 600 per year.
Now let us particularize a little. That
portion..of the proposed city that nowf ails
within the present townsite, and strictly
residence districts includes seven miles
OF streets actually plated and surveyed.
True some are not built on, and might
not be a charge upon the city for
several years. Say six miles of streets
to be looked after. In addition to this
strictly street mileage, we have from
four to five miles of county roadway
thrown in by way of ballast. Alto
gether. streets and roads would reach
about ten miles. Now, the patchwork
business pursued by the county admins
tration on our county roads costs on
an average in this supervisor district
over 500 per mile every year. Such a
meager sum would be completely lost
sight of on our streets. II would have
to be concentrated upon mile or less
to make any showing at all. Then
sprinkling must be provided, and this is
where the nadvisability of dragging in
the essentially country roads comes in.
Lighting must be provided for, furnish
ing another strong argument for curtail-
ing the city within strictly residence
districts. The salary question is vital
one. The county government costs over
81 per capital for salaries alone. II the
city government can get along with one