The Monticellonian., 1915-04-01

triet
The county court shall enter order
Of assessment of taxes to cover esti-
mated cost of work, with 10 per cent
for tncidentals. and this creates first
lien on property, over all other en-
cumbrances No order for assessment
shall exceed 20 per cent OF assess
ment benefits for any one wear.
Should the county court at any time
refuse or fail to make any order for
assessments. extension of taxes. etc,
lie may be forced to do so by man
damus by any property owner or the
commissioners. The county clerk ex-
tends the district tax for collection by
the county assessor The collector
gets one per cent for his work. and
the assessor gets not to exceed one
half of one per cent on all moneys
handled through collections. but gets
nothing on proceeds of bond sales.
The county court may make add
tienal assessments to complete any
work undertaken. but must not exceed
total of benefits derived. Delinquent
property Is taxed % per cent add
tional, and may be sold by chancellor.
The road Improvement district may
buy such property. where no offer is
made in excess of the delinquent as
sessments. This is highly important IN
Improvement districts
Districts may issue bonds not to ex-
coed 30 per cent of total assessed
value of lands in district. and this
maximum of 80 per cent Is ABSOLUTE.
except that it does not include inter-
est on bonds, After roads are com
peted they NAV be maintained by
supplemental revenues from general
road tax Of county; or If majority of
the property owners prefer, additional
bonds, Of 15.year limit, may be issued
to amount Of % per cent Of value of
property In district. to be used for
maintenance of roads
All jobs amounting to 81 900 or over
must be advertised by the commits
sioners and let by competitive bid.
Contractors must make payment To
all sub-contractors and supply men.
and must be covered by sufficient bond
TO guarantee this. At no time shall the
contractor be allowed more than SO
per cent of the amount due him on
contract until the work is completed
end the commissioners are satisfied
that all contracts for supplies have
been paid. When II appears that the
contractor is not paying for these sup
plies, the commissioners may with
hold all amounts due him until he
makes these settlements. or may them
selves pay the said debts of the gem
eral contractor
Any attempt to influence any per-
son connected with the district by
bribery shall constitute felony, with
punishment OF from one to five years
in prison.
Commissioners may do certain work
with day labor, but it shall be under
supervision of the state highway en-
gineer.
Failure OF a district TO pay any
bond, or interest thereon. may result
in receivership and foreclosure of as
sessment liens by chancellor within
nual reports of all moneys received
and disbursed, same being subject to
revision by county court Commission
ers shall not be liable for any errors
except such as are wilful Using
money for their own use or benefit
subjects them to charge of felony,
with prison sentence on conviction.
Condemnation proceedings for rights
OF ways shall be by same process as
In railroads, where property owners
demand jury trials for damages II
project for Improvement is abandoned,
all debts for preliminary work must
be paid.
No appeal shall delay the proceed
ings for carrying out any improve
ment undertaken, and appeals affect
only the lands of the particular owner
making the appeal. County Court may
enter orders at regular, special, or ad-
! iourned terms for any matters relating
to improvement districts under this
i law; and. should the county court fall
or decline to enter any order, he may
be proceeded against Immediately by
mandamus. When appeals are taken
1 70 Supreme Court that body shall ad-
vance such case as matter of public
interest
No injunction shall stay progress in
road work or collecting assessments,
end any person seeking injunction
shall give bond to commissioners in
sum double all amounts paid ont by
district and all obligations outstand-
ing, and such bond shall be condi-
toned upon the payment of said OBJ
legations and contracts should injunc-
ton be wrongfully granted. No injunc-
ton against district or commissioners
shall be valid unless notice of hearing
on such petition shall have been filed
with chairman % commission. in writ
ing. ten days prior 10 such hearing.
In other words. the new law is one
that will put Arkansas where she be-
longs in the matter of stability of i'm
provement district bonds and the elm
nation of needless delays by grouchy
landowners.
FOR Il