Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-11-05

amount per front or square foot, as
the case may be, TO be assessed
against property in the benefited dis
trict, sub-districts or zones, and shall
advertise, In the manner described,
the total cost OF the Improvement,
based on the lowest reliable bid the
maximum share per front fot, TO be
charged to the benefited district, sub
districts or zones, stating where and
when the corrected map may be ex-
amined, and fixing a time and place
for a public hearing, at which the
board Of supervisors will sit as
board of equalization, receiving COM
plants or objections respecting the
method Of apportionment of proposed
assessments. This hearing must be
held not less than one nor more
than two weeks after first publication
Of notice. After this hearing the SUI
pervisors shall make whatever change
Justice may require, or shall confirm
the first pr posed assessment, and
upon reaching anal decision they shah
by ordinance fix the portions of cost
to be assessed against the benefited
properties.
Regarding assessments
! "The contract for the improvement
work shall now be awarded the lowest
responsible bidder, who must file a
bond approved by the supervisors.
ASSESSMENTS. II now becomes the
duty OF the tax assessor to notify the
owners (by letter and by posting on
land assessed) of the amount of as
sessment and date when due. Assess
ments are due and payable within 80
days of date of last publication of
ordinance, but such assessments may,
If the owner of the land assessed so
elects, be paid in installments. Fail
ure to pay within 30 days is consid-
cred an election to pay in install
ments and all persons electing to pay
in installments are held to have con-
sented to the improvements. Assess
ments shall be a lien on the land and
shall have priority over all other liens
except lien of property taxes and other
public purposes. A. ~
assessments to be paid in install
ments shall be made in not less than
five or more than 10 equal annual pay
ments, with interest not over. 6 per
cent, although the owner of any land
assessed may at any time pay the en-
tire unpaid assessment and interest.
Failure to pay any installment when
due causes the whole of unpaid as
sessment to become due and payable
Immediately, and to draw interest at
the date Of l per cent per month or
fraction until the day of sale, al.
though at any time prior to the day
OF sale the owner may pay the
amount due and be restored to form
er rights.
Default in payment shall cause
assessor to dispose of property as
provided by general law for default
of property taxes. ~ + .
ITO provide the amount required to
meet payments due on the contract,
should the owners of the land as
seseed elect to pay in installments,
bonds are provided for
Bonds. The supervisors may
issue district improvement bonds
bearing the name of the improved dis
trict, bonds payable to bearer in the
period of. years determined by the
number Of installments, bearing inter-
est at not over per cent, and sub
ject to CALL,
These bonds are payable only out
of money collected ION account of i'm
provement assessments for the dis
trict indicated on face, and the city
and county does not guarantee pay
ment otherwise
These bonds may be used, at par,
to pay the contract price of any i'm
provement. If not so used, they shall
be sold to the highest bidder after
advertising, and the proceeds shall
be used to pay the contractor.
= When sufficient funds are in the
treasury, the supervisors may call
bonds for payment, interest stopping
80 days from date of first publication
of call. So ..s
Il would again ask the privilege of
reading paper prepared by Mr.. Guy
Gere for the Research Club. Mr..
Gere is, ] believe, one of the best
posted men in our city on this sub.
ject and has given much thought to
the practical working out of these
new laws.
Law Is Needed l
i The need of the law has been ap-
parent to all who have given the mat
ter any study, for Honolulu has been
unique among American cities of any
size, in trying to carry out needed
improvements from the general tax
fund alone. 1t has long been recog-
nized by civic bodies that the large
expenditures necessary for santa
ton, drainage, the higher grade of
street paving and public buildings
must be met by the raising of spe-
cial funds either by bond issue or
by q special tax loan on the proper
ties directly benefiting or by a COM
bination of the two methods.
"As / understand the new law is in
the last mentioned class and gives to
the supervisors large discretionary
| powers in determining just what pro-
: portion of the cost, if any. viii be
borne by the city and what borne by
the district.
ut seems TO me- il would have beer
better if this had been definitely set,
tied by the law, but | believe the law
should he given fair and consistent