The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-03-04

Electric stock ........... 10000
Fire apparatus ............ 15,OOO.OO
City hall and lots .......... II 100000
Ward house and lots ....... 100000
Cash in treasury (Jan. 30).. 12,746.77
Total $3.50, 746.77
Our assets over liabilities
is $91 ,746.77
The paper did not predict the future
of municipal ownership in Bookings
but believed it should have a thorough
trial.
The same cities rates were quoted
for water as for lighting. The rates
are not so very different. For the or
binary user Brookings was as low or
lower than others. For very large
users of water, usually higher but in
some cases lower. From amounts
allowed by cities for hydrant rental
from $2,5OO.OO to $3,5OO.OO per year
should be allowed the plant for it's 80
hydrants. In this case as with the
light plant considerable data wa
given to prove assertions.
The writer claimed that whether
these plants would pay better under
private ownership would depend upon
the owner. Gave advantages such
ownership might have over municipal
ownership and also stated some ways
in which it was an advantage to have
municipal ownership.
Are the plants a burden upon the
taxpayers? One large black board
was covered with figures showing 1914
assessments on real estate, personal
property, railroad and telephones by
several cities, the state, county, city
and school tax levies, total %apprOpria-
tons for city purposes, bonded city
debt, bonded school debt, interest
bearing school warrants, etc. Brook
ings' average assessment for all pur-
poses was 22.67 mills on the dollar.
Average of other cities considered
81 1856 mills on the dollar. Brookings
had the highest school tax Of any city
excepting Mitchell. The Brookings
levy for city purposes S.45 mills, aver
age of other cities taken 1866. Levy
last year. Our increase was due to
allowing $4,000 for lighting streets
and 50, 900 for hydrant rental.
The levy not an exact criterion of
taxation, valuation of cities were given
and comparisons were made.
The depreciation of plants was con-
sidered and it was shown hat for a
considerably greater depreciation
than usually allowed as well as loss
of taxes, plants would still be allow
ing free service for more than depre-
citation and loss of taxes. The only
thing the city loses is taxes for which
it gets several times that amount in
free service.
In discussing the electric light plant
fTOl. MdlucWS odlu lhdI = ohO 'NhS
the city carried about 100000 out
standing warrants drawing TO inter
est. None are outstanding today.
The plant paid 100000 original
purchase bonds in 1909; $40, 100000
w~aterworks bonds in 1911; 100000
w~aterworks bonds in 1914.
The $4,000 waterworks bonds paid
were derived from waterworks funds
for building and equipping power
house. 1t had on January 80, 1915,
$2,276.82 cash on hand. 1t appears to
have paid without any allowance for
street lighting, light for city hall.
band concerts, concessions, etc. These
would cost city actual cash to be
raised by taxation if owned by indi'
viduals or another corporation.
Plant has paid over $40, 100000 OF
warrants, and 5000 90 bonds. From
the joint electric lighting and heating
fund the installation and equipment OF
heating plant $16,30O.O0 have been
paid, and has about $4,000 In funds
Many figures showing relative costs
of light were given, showing rates in
such towns as Watertown, Yankton,
Brookings, Huron and Mitchell. From
these figures 1t was shown that the
Brookings rate is as cheap or cheaper
for ordinary users, but when a very
large amount Is used some cities have
a little lower and some a little higher
rate. Figures also showed street
lights would cost on best figures given