Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-10-20
HOW THEY CAME TO
REDUCE TAX RATE
Aid. Allen Jumps on Board
Of Education.
Insists 1t Exceeded Its Powers In
Contracting Debt---NeW Tax Rate
Provides Ample for Interest and
Sinking Fund.

Sinking Fund.
TIE reduction of the tax rate, Al
the meeting of Council on Wednesday
night, from ST. 40 on the $1OO to $1.3O
was not accomplished without consid.
cradle discussion as to the advisable
ty of the proposition and the ability
Of the City to conduct its affairs on
the smaller tax rate. In. tie end il
was apparently conclusively estab-
iishd that the city could do this and
the lower tax rate was the result.
The discussion began as soon as the
meeting opened when Alderman Allen
requested information as to the PROS
able assessabIe valuation for the en-
suing year. No definite information
could be furnished. Clerk Hawkes.
stated that the Board of Assessors
had not completed their work witL'
the large corporations and that as he
corporations had the right of app9a.
amid arbitration it would be some DAYS
before the total assessment could be
secured He approximated it, though,
at around fHur millions of dollars.
Property Owners Behind Demand.
Alderman Allen then expressed his
desire to see the tax rate lowered.
Property owners, he insisted, were
complaining of the exactions put up
on them, he believed their complaints
were just, and tl9y should be given
as much relief as the affairs of tine
would permit.
Alderman Brown, chairman of the
Finance committee, could not see that
it would be possible to lower the tax
rate, inasmuch as the Board of Educa-
ton was requesting an increase N
the levy for school purposes from
four mills to five mills, the latter be-
ing the limit allowed by law. A-
denman Brown presented figuras
showing that the public school pay
roll this year will be over $4,000 ard
that $4,000 must be expended for sup
plies, total of over $4,000. The
board received from tie state from
$4,000 to $1,000, but it is never pos
sjb'e to tell when it will come, or
what the amount will be. The board
would need every cent of the state
and city funds for its purposes.
Debt on High School Building.
In reply to question from Alder
man Allen Mayor Fielder stated that
there was a debt now on the new
High School property of about $10,-
600, which the Board of Education
would haze to provide for cut of its
income.
Aldennnn Allen called attention to
the fact that the levy of the full tax
of five mills on tie four millions as
sessable values would only yield $20,-
900 for the public schools, or just
enough to meet expenses. He wanted
to kew where the $4,000 debt could
be provided for
Alderman Brown stated that by
economy the board could save some
thing from the state funds coming to
it.
Alderman Allen expressed hims:.f
strongly on tie propriety of the ac-
tion of the Board of Education in
contracting a debt of $4,000.
WAS it necessary for the bcaIll 10
confer with you before they did so"
asked Mayor Fielder.
YES" replied Alderman Allen.
with me and every member of this
council. This debt Should not have
been contracted without the consent
of council. 1 maintain that the Board
of Education exceeded it's authority
in contracting this debt 1t has u
debt-making power conferred on it
If we are not able to reIICce the tax
rate it will be because the Board
of Eluciatton tbs incurred this debt
without saying word to this
council. and that council is not to
blame They s,ttIld have ldvi5e1 is
before they contracted for a $35, ,0o0
experIliture knowing they had less
than $25 900 from the bond issue.
Alderman Clarke reiterated Alder
man Aliens visrws. He maintained
that the Board of Education exceeded
its powers, but the debt must be
paid Hereafter, thOugl, he insisted
the boarf should contract no debts
without the knowledge of council.
Board Would Care For Debt.
Mayor Fielder pointed out that it
was the duty of the Board of Educa-
ton to take care of the debt, and thai
body proposed to tto so cIt of TIE funds
coming to it. All council had to do
was to vote the levy of five mills, per
mitted bg law, and the Board of Edn-
cation would take care of its own
affairs.
Yes" reiterated Aid Allen. "An1
if this 1ebt had not been contracted
the levy for schools could have been
kept at 4 mills. Let the public un-
derstand tllt phase of the tax sit,
uation. That is what | want. 1 an
not opposed to the fine High School
building. If we wanted $4,000 one
I would have voted for the bonds
for it. What / object to is this way
of doing business. If il keeps up how