The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-30
THE CITY TAX LEVY.

The City Council, at its meeting on
Thursday evening. fixed the municipal
tax levy at fifteen mills on the dollar;
that is. a dollar and half tax on each
one hundred dollars of property as as
scsssed. The levy for the past five
years has been thirteen mills annually
The increase Is explained by the Com.
mittee on Estimates and Apportionment
and by the Mayor as made necessary
through the obligatory changes in the
water mains and pipe service. 4 large
addition to these is compulsory because
of the great growth of the city and Its
extension in various directions. espe-
cially on the north bench and in the
southeastern part OF the city, Of the
population and new dwelling houses.
A notable portion of this increase is
made also by reason of the municipal
improvements and grading streets. The
heaviest additional expense allowed TO
any department, as Mayor Bransford
explained, was to the waterworks de-
partment, and the amount is $l14,220.
This amount has been expended in low
ering water mains on Third South from
State to Tenth East in consequence of
the paving Of the street for that dis
tance, and on Ninth East from South
Temple to a point below Eleventh
South, and on First avenue. These eX'
penditures, as the Mayor explained, had
not been provided for In the estimates
furnished by the former City Engineer
to the Council Nevertheless they were
expenditures that had to be made in
order to provide for the growth and
improvement Of the city.
Mayor Bransford set forth, candidly
and forcefully, that he had used all dbl
igence, by personal plea and otherwise,
to the members of the Council, to be
careful with appropriations; that he had
Informed them personally time and time
again that the city must keep within
the funds at its disposal; and he con-
graduated the Council and the heads of
the various departments upon the fact
that they had done this; and he added
with businesslike candor that carried
confidence in his position, that he did
not believe that one dollar had been
unnecessarily spent IN any department.
We believe that the intelligent opin-
ion of this city, disconnected from pre-
Juice and political bias. will emphat-
ically support the Mayor in his posi-
ton Salt Lake is a growing city.
There is an immensity of work going
on all the time, both public and pri-
vate. The increasing population has to
be supplied with water. The water
mains have to be enlarged. The pipe
service has to be increased. There is
no shirking the responsibility of pro-
vidlng ample water for the people No
one wants to shirk it. least of all the
tion generally. They are glad to see
the city grow, and they are delighted
to be obliged to provide these add.
tional facilities for the increasing pop
ulation 1t is a source of pride TO them
that the city is growing under their ad-
ministration, and it is a Joy and pride
also TO every loyal citizen of Salt Lake.
There was no increase in the city tax
levy that is not absolutely explainable
as necessary and thoroughly defensible
The contingent fund, which is the gen
eral expense account, is still kept be-
low the five mill limit provided by law.
The increase is in the specific and spe'
cial benefit class. for which all should
be glad TO provide. In fact, every
we'll meaning citizen of Salt Lake
should be glad TO see tnat the need
is urgent for this increased expenditure,
because it means that the city admins
tration is simply keeping pace IN Its
necessary expenditures on specific and
beneficial accounts, with the advance or
population and the growth of this mu-
nicipaEty.