The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-03-31

school board has levied. .. 103, ,000.00
The park boark has levied. IL, $4,000
And the state and county
nave levied ..........,... 89,SS7.51
Thus the total amount levied
this year is 1882, 0OS. Il
This sum represents an increase to
Justify the belief of conservative and
economical management.
From the above figures it will be
found that the actual tax rate imposed
by the city levy this year is less than
q Of 10 and the combined rates of
the city, school board, park board,
county and state is but 1859.
So. sThs Dividend" Proposition. ...-1
4At Ttiis point it is perhaps proper
to say that had the so-called refund
proposition" been adopted the tax levy
this year for the city's share would
have been about 10 less Of the amount
levied by the city. 1t is also fair at
this time to explain what the refund
proposition was, as it has been often
misrepresented, as for instance that of
adding $4,000 to the taxes in order to
get $4,000 to refund to the taxpayers.
N explanation let it be remembered
first. that no money can be expended
by the city unless an appropriation
has first been made, stating its pur-
pose, and second, that no appropria-
tion can be made except on Sept.
of each year; therefore when the
budget was made upon Sept. l and
every requirement provided for the
following year, final means was
sought by which 1t could be safely
reduced. 1t was found that during
the year $4,000 would be collected
from licenses, fines, corporation taxes,
etc bJIt JIn1ay. tho lauy IA oif OF
hold that sum until the end of the
year; but by making an anticipatory
appropriation at the commencement
Of the year, Sept. /, the annual bud
get could be reduced a. corresponding
amount and as this money did not
come from taxation. but from busi-
ness deals of the city with private
corporations and concerns it in effect
would thus be a dividend distributed
equitably among the tax payers. That
the cut in the budget would be safely
met by this plan was apparent for the
reason that the budget is made Sept.
on the basis of March pay
ments, hence one-half of the years COL
lections from licenses, etc, would be in
the treasury before more than one-half
of the budget had been expended, leav-
ing the city with such wide margin
of funds that there could be no danger
of our even touching the contingent
fund which was provided for emerg-
encies.
The suggestions received an extra
ordinary amount of commendatory no.
tice throughout the United States re-
garding the finances of Fargo; the
leading papers and magazines of the
nation giving editorial space to the af-
fairs of Fargo, which as an advertise
ing benefit could not have been Sc
cured for thousands of dollars.
Deficits Assessment Funds.
The word deficit in this case does
not imply defalcatfons, nor affect the
credit of the city finances. 1t simply
refers to falacious methods of account
ing Of long ago. and while the matter
is now in the process of correction an
explanation of the cause Of the diff
ficulty is due IL a complete statement
of Fargo finances is contemplated. The
question of correction has presented
one of the most difficult problems that
confronts the city government and its
Importance one Of the greatest as It
concerns the issue very soon of about
$4,000 in city bonds.
The briefest explanation is the most