Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-20
SUMMONSES
Necessary TO Secure Re-
Quired TWO-thirds
In Both Branches Of The Au-
gusta City Council
To Pass the $4,000 Loan 0rde,
Favored by the Administration.

SummonSes were necessary to com
pei attendance of tWo-thrds of the
members of both branches of the city
council Monday night, in order to Sc
cure the passage of an order for q
so, 900 loan. an administration meas
urc, the reason for the issuance oil
which were presented by Mayor
Noyes in long typewriter state
faent, sitter the order was introduced
The order as passed, authorized the
may n ard city treasurer 10 borrow il
the n4mc and oil behalf Of the city d
Augusta. in anticipation of taxes
whatever sums may be necessary FOR
the use of the city. 10 an amount moi
exceeding $4,000. The order was read
by Mayor Noyes, when the necessary
two thirds had been secured. passed
by the aldermen and concurrent pas
sage given it 10y the common council
The loan order WAS accompanied by
the following statement, which was
read b. mayor Neyes;
Reasons Given for Loan Order.
.I;ejetly stated tlie reasons for the
temporary loan provided for in the at
tachcd ordcr are
THE decision Of the administration
nat ia increase the tax rate for 1911.
Ia 1879 the tax rate fer Augusta was
S37.S5, 1910. S34S5. 1911. $24s5. The re-
ductian in f9lb from the rate of $3.50
Ia one Of se8S5 saved the taxpayers uf
this CITY Approximately S2a,9o0, or 81 on
every xib0o -aluatiun. This low rate.
however, las lcen adhered 10 onls hy
1pc;tns uf the strictost economy, both
in 1910 ana 1911. The condition of state
finances made necessary an increase
al one mill on the State tax for 1911.
This meant IN increase in the direct
state tax for the city OF Augusta OF
about Sseoo. An additional mill on the
local Tux rate for 1911 would have mate
the temporary loan 1t this time un-
necessary. bat the increase Of one mn
in the rate would have cost the tax
pay rs ri Augusta about $s9ee. In
view Of the fact tltat the State tax
for 1912 viii lac two mills less than 1oi
faIf. making II saving 10 The city ou
ite state tax for 1872 al about $i5,o00
the administration believes that keep
iHg nfe tx rate at $24s5, and pteNld=
ing for The payment Of the temporary
loan out Of the saving Of $4,000 Oh tht
state tax fer l913. to be sound busl-
ness. a saving Ia the taNpaY els III 1911
of $500 and nccessitating tie increase
OF the tax rate in the city neither u
1911 or l9la The temporary loan at tins
time can bc negotiated at 39s per cent
The business policy of the admin
istration is to pay as il goes. The tenn
porary loan could have been passed
over until the third Monday in March
at which time it is customary to make
a temporary loan in anticipation ol
payment Of taxes. Such method
however. would mean. as it always
has meant. the holding back of bills
against the city and Withholding q
money due the citizens of Augusta
This administration deems it wise pol
icy to cay as it goes and to settle eV-
cry bill presented in the present mu
nicipal year.
st should be added that, in addi'
ton to paving the extra $4,000 State taH
for 1a1i. this administration has me
and paid certain necessary but Intore-
seen obligations, among which may
he mentioned the increased cost fol
discriminating the brown-tail moths
the additional expense of making
new valuation Of this city under th'
new state law, and the heavy eXpendi'
ture for repairs on old sewers.