The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-21
BOOST FOR TAXES
1t Is Budget Making Time at
City Hall.
Estimates Submitted Call for
Increase of $.OO13S.
TOWN NEEDS S48, 735 MORE
The Total for Next Year Placed
at $474,S57.
Bulk of Increase to Park Com
missioner and Mayor.

An increase in the next city tax levy
of more than one and one fourth mills
over the last levy is to be made or
some members of the city commission
will not get what they are asking for
in their budget estimates To be exact
there will be an increase of 13S mills
il Mayor House and each city com
missioner IS permitted by his fellow
commissioners to have all the money
he is asking for in the budget esti-
mates now in the hands of the city
commissioner of finance, w. H. Was
son. The increased amount to be
raised by taxation is S4S,735.
This is budget making time at the
city's lawmakers fix limit upon
the sums of money to be spent
during the year 1916. OF course
they are not compelled to spend all
the money thus set aside, but on the
other hand they can spend no more
than has been provided for in the
explains it: Under the commission
form of government law we must
either keep within our estimates of
expenditures or go to Jail.
Estimates from all the heads of de-
partments have been turned into w.
H. WATSON, city commissioner of
finance, and it is now up to him to
total them and then figure how much
personal and real estate property of
the city to provide money enough for
the running of city government as
proposed in the estimates.
Will Need $474,S57.
The budget reques now in pos
session of WATSON total $474,S57- This
is the sum of money, according to
Wasson's figures, which the city will
need for governmental functions dur
ing the year 1916. But not quite all of
this will be raised by direct taxation
on real and personal property. Last
year the city received as receipts for
licenses from police court fines and
other sources $47,677 Figuring that
the same amount will be raised from
such sources in 1916, leaves $427,1SO
to be raised by tax levy.
The assessed valuation of personal
and real property in Topeka is s55,-
941, 97S- To raise the required sum
on this valuation calls for a tax levy
of 1853 mills. The levy to raise the
the city is now operating was CTS
mills. In addition to the 1853 mills
necessary to meet the budget requests
a n mill levy will be necessary for
the bridge fund to replace BRIDGES
floods. The levy for this purpose last
year was Il of mill
w. G. Tandy, city commissioner of |
streets, is not asking for any more !
money for his department than was
allowed in the last budget, with the /
of the increase of Il mill |
for the bridge fund. WATSON is not |
Frank Newland, city commissioner /
of water and lighting, is asking foi' a |
much larger sum than he did year |
ago. New equipment for the liSht
plant and extensions for the White
Way are the reasons.
Mayor Wants an Increase.
Mayor House finds need for more
money in both the fire department |
and the police department. However,
when $4,000 is deducted from the
fire department budget, an increase
voted by the people to provide for a
double-platoon system, his budget for
the coming year is practically the
same. For the police department he
asks an increase of $1,000. Two more
motorcycle policemen and police pa
troll motor car will be provided with
the additional funds.
w. L. Porter, city commissioner of
parks, wants S92,051 for the various
city departments under his supervi-
sion. The last budget allowed him
only S51,135. OF the increase, S10,-
900 is sought with which to build an
animal house in Gage park. The
present arrangements for the care of
the animals there has been the sub
lect of much criticism. He also wants
$4,000 to be used in cleaning the al
Ieys. He has had this duty without
having the funds with which to per-
form it. The only money he has had
Tor this purpose has been for an an
nual cleanup. He argues that the
city should keep clean instead of
merely cleaning up once a year.
Porter also thinks the city should
spend $1,000 for additional equipment
and for remodeling the F'airchi1d
street pumping plant which cares for
he surplus water in North Topeka in
lines of flood
For parks Porter wants $39,035.
Nine thousand of this goes towards
payment for Klein park, recently pur-
biased by the city, and 49, 900 is for
and salaries. being an in
,rease of $1,000. This increase is an
icipated on account of SO additional
acres of land secured by the city dur
ng the year for park purposes
Porter is also reorganizing and CO.
the sanitary, food inspec-
ion and milk inspection departments. ;
He wants more sanitary policemen
md consequently needs more money.
There is an increase in the running
expenses of the city clerks office due
o the duties of the commissioner of
election having been placed there on
ID. Compared with the expenses of
he two offices there is a, balance on
he right side of the ledger even with
he increases contemplated.
The Budget Estimates.
Following are the budget estimates
or 1916 and the 1915 budget allow
Lnces as furnished by w. H. WATSON,
ity commissioner of finance:
1916 1915
Jay E. House, Mayor estimate. budget
IRE department .... S1O33 31 S75I35
'olice department ..... 1900 1926 {
Frank N. Newland. lighting {
pecial lighting .--..... 1905 4,s41 {
W. G. Tandy, streets
treets 43.6OO 4S,6UO
.sPhalt .s.....::..::..:: $500 500
w. l. Porter, parks, public buildings
anitation, dogs, milk, food,
weights and measures