The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1914-05-09
The Hall Min Levy

and others regarding the proposed
half mill levy for increasing the state
road fund.
At the present time the state road
fund is derived from the monies re-
ceived from the sale Of lands granted
to Colorado when admitted to the
Union. This amounts to about $780, 900
annually. In addition, this fund re-
ceives per cent of the net receipts
Of the sale of certain other public
lands. This approximstes t25, 600 an.
nually. From state automobile IL
censes about $780, 900 more Is added "a
this fund, making q total Of $l46, 200.
This total may vary. but these
amounts represent all the money
available to aid the counties In road
building.
WHY ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE NEED.
ED NOW.
The state highway commission haa
already mapped out = plan of sys-
tematic road building In Colorados
In order to develope all sections BY
building these connecting roads, suS-
flcient funds to construct these high.
ways within = reasonable time must
be provided. The funds now accruink
to the state road fund are absolutely
inadequate, and 1t becomes necessary,
therefore, to raise additional monies.
The State Association Of County
Commissioners and the Colorado
Good Roads association have united
in approving the proposed half mill
levy as the most feasible and prac-
tical plan.
WHAT A HALFMILLL LEVY WILL RAISE
Under the present valuation the
half mill levy rs proposed will bring
into the state road fund about $606,-
600, of which amount the city and
county of Denver. which has never
paid anything to the state road fund,
will pay about t2OO,OOO With these
funds every prohibitive grade and
bad stretch OF road on the state high,
way system will be eliminated
within three or four years.
PROPOSED METHOD OF EXTENDING
HALF MILL LEVY.
It is proposed by the state highway
commission that the money raised In
each county under this half mill be
expended within that county. In. ad-
dition there will be, should this bill
become . law, At least 1850, 600 to be
divided among the counties as
further aid in roads. This money will
be realized from the present income
to the state road fund (referred to
In the first paragraph above), and
which amounts to about about $780,
600, and Denver's share of the half
mill levy, which IS stated will be
about $2OO,OOO. Under the law not
penny Of this $9OO,OO can be spent in
an incorporated city or town, there
fore the money raised in Denver
must be given to aid the state road
building.
WILL MAKE BURDEN ON COUNTIES
LESS.
The present law provides that the
state may aid the counties In road
building by giving them amounts
equal to from one to five times that
which each county may appropriate.
Scarcity of funds has heretofore
made it necessary for the state high
way commission to require that the
majority of counties equal the
amounts allotted the N by the state.
Should the half mill levy bill carry,
1t will give to the highway commits
sion an opportunity to reduce greatly
the proportionate amounts to be
raised by each county for state road
work.
HOW THIS WILL WORK IN YOUR OWN
COUNTY.
Suppose under the half mill levy
your county would raise $4,000. This
sum will remain in your county to be
expended on state roads. In addition,
say the state would add 5000 more
from the amount of the state road
fund, made up by the levy from
Denver and the present sources of
income to that fund. Here is a total
Of 200 allotted to be expended in
your county. Under the law the state
may give as much as Is for every 81
your county raises. Your county ap-
preparation would therefore be much
less than at present, and more money
would be spent on your roads.
wHATTHIs MEASURE MEANS TO EACH
COUNTY.
The first work to be done is on the
road which have been declared
primary state roads. AS soon as these
are drained, surfaced and put in good
shape the state highway commission
must under the law aid each county
in the improvement of secondary or
tributary roads, This means that the |