Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-13
LAW FORCES CITY
TO REDUCE FUNDS
New Bill OF Legislature Means Gem
eral Appropriations Must Be
Cut Down $4,000.
REMOVES SPECIAL PARK Levi
GompeIs Cities Under $4,000 to Hold
Referendum Election in Order
to Get Additional Money.


Because city officials only recently
became acquainted with a law passed
by the legislature last spring all funds
ia the municipal budget with the ex-
ceptiou OF that for parks and play
grounds, will have to be scaled down
so that $4,000 IS sliced from the en-
tire tax levy which will be available
in March.
The state legislature passed law
thai cities under $4,000 population, at
the last government census, could not
make the special three-mill tax levy
for parks. This special tax is in addi-
ton to the 12-miIl general levy to
which the municipalities are limited.
An emergency clause placed In the
bill makes it effective this year. Mo-
line, as well as Rock Island. is affect
ed by the measure, since both cities
are under 10000 population.
When the city budget was approved
In May the commission was not aware
Of the passage Of the law and accord
ingly figured on this additional three
mills. which has been levied for the
past few years. Had the commission
been familiar with the law or its pas
sage it would not have planned on the
extra park tax, but would have made
provision for the care of the parks
and Fairgrounds in the general fund.
As It is. the commission placed the
special park fund at $4,000 and the
parks were improved and money spent
on the strength that there would be
nothing to hinder the collection Of the
money when the annual tax was avail
able.
The result is that the money al
ready spent must be taken from the
general levy. which means that each
fund in the budget must ba proper
tionately cut down This will be done
by the county clerk
No Calamity Howl.
Commissioner Rudgren said today
that there is no calamity howl eman-
ating from any source as a result or
the law, although the commission did
not approve of the emergency clause
/ in the measure because it took the
council unaWares. Mr. Rudgren said
that the council only recently became
acquainted with the law, and that the
| commission had not as yet decided
what steps would be taken for next
year.
The law provides that cities under
$4,000 can by each year holding a ref
! erendum election levy the three-mill
] special tax for parks if the majority of
/ the people cast. ballots in favor of it.
Mr.. Rudgren declared that he was
not sure whether or not the council
could call an election in time to make
/ the levy, but that the matter would be
looked up by City Attorney J. X. Scott.
In the event that no election can be
held the money spent on the upkeep Of
parks must come from the general
fund. This will not be severe on the
/ city unless new territory voted an
I neXed TO Rock Island is ruled out by
/ the supreme court 1t is figured that
Rock Island will not the coming year
need 10 tax TO the limit provided by
/ the law which is IL mills on the dol
lar for general purposes, and there
( fore it can use any additional funds
( lett over and not exceeding the ~
mill tax for parks at least for 1916.
IN The future it can then call spe-
cial election unless the bill is amend
ed.
In Moline the situation is somewhat
different than in Rock Island Moline
/ is a year ahead in its park tax and the
/ general funds will not therefore have
to be scaled down Moline officials
have interpreted the law to the effect
that it is too late now to call an elec-
ton and must either use funds from
I the general levy for next year or go
without any money for park purposes.