Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-19
Indebtedness Of Cities and
Counties in Nebraska
THE CIVIL divisions of the state Of n

Census bureau Buuattn.
III HB CIVIL divisions OF the state Of Nebraska re-
i ported total net indebtedness OF es,51i,061 In
1913. or this amount the counties. as a separate
unit obligated for SOsl2, or lo2 per cent; the
cities. towns villages townships etc. were obligated
for S2eNso52. 80 per cent; and the independent
school districts for S36i5,S. 80 per cent OF the
total The amount reported in 1919 was an increase Of
s5 Si 0g Ts2 per cent the amount reported in
1902 the Indebtedness In the latter year showing an
increase OF S5N1F 335 per cent over that in 1890
Tho per capita debt in 1918 was 80, having increased
NO57 or a2 per cent. from 1872 TO 1918 During the
period 1890 1902 tho per capita debt increased NO
e. per cent During the period 1890 to 1902 the per
CAPITA debt Of all civil divisions increased at about
the the net debt. while during the
period 1902 to 1913 the rate Of increase for the net
debt very much in Of the rate OF increase
Of the per capita debt
The counties OF the state reported total debt Of
t3S5LF2 Of which S,5sO.9ss 92s per cent, repre-
sented funded fixed debt. nearly all OF which was
in the form OF general bonds: t037IS SO cent.
loans; and S042s. is per cent, warrants.
The sinking funds held by the counties amounted to
tl4s3H, 81 per cent OF their total debt The net
per cent, from the amount reported in 1902 the last
mentioned year showing a decrease OF Ss,n7. or 49,
per cent, from the amount reported in 1890 The per
capita debt decreased from $50 in 1890 to 4s in 1902
and SO1 In 1919 the rate Of decrease in both periods
being in Of the rate OF decrease for the net
debt although the rates for the period 1890 to 1872
were very nearly the same.
There were ninety-two counties in the state in
1913 and OF this number fortyone reported debt The
smallest debt. amounting to 5000 reported by
Perkins county. The largest debt, amounting TO
Ns9s5s, was reported by Douglas county, in which
the city OF Omaha IL located The smallest per capita
debt, S0T. reported by Saline county where the
total debt only $3.50 while the largest per capita
debt. N423. was reported by otoe county, with
total debt Of tH5O0 During the period 1902 to 1919
thiry-scven counties paid off the entire debt
standing in 1902. while only five counties which
free from debt in that year reported debt in 1913
Douglas county. mentioned above being the largest
individual debtor, reported than onehalf OF the
debt Of all Counties and showed Increase during
the period 1909 to 1913 OF $500 e65 s0c per cent
The cities and villages Of the state reported
total debt OF so Sss Oh in 1918 or this amount S24
6O3ls, 87 per cent represented funded or fixed
debt S3SD.iS9. 1879 per cent, special assessment
loans t29S7is, or per cent Ioans and tslC-
aI or 81 per cent, revenue warrants. These places
held sinking fund assets in 1918 amounting sS45,
or 20 per cent Of the total debt. The net debt
ported In 1918 S2S54774 increase OF Si6266 GAL
or iSas per cent over the amount reported in 1902
During the period 1885, TO 1902 the debt the in
Corporated places $685. or fot per cent
The per capita debt for all Incorporated places was
to6 in 1913 The capita debt for prior years
not calculated.
The cities OF Lincoln and Omaha make up the
group OF cities having population OF a0OOo more.
ana together reported net debt OF s1s021O. The
city OF Omaha obligated sisO6s45 an increase
OF se26S1 or i49s cent the amount reported
In 1907 During this period the per capita debt In
1890 TO 1909 the net debt OF Omaha Increased a COO ESQ
or 2oss per cent while the per capita debt Increased
t'eel or 1877 per cent This is OF the very few
cases In which the rate of larger for tho
per capita than for the net debt
TIE group composed of cities having population
OF 5000 TO $1,000 reported net debt Of ssSss5 In
crease over that OF 1909 OF s90es1 or III Der cent
Each city In this group reported an Increase in net
debt thu largest increase having been reported bv
South Omaha The cities Of Beatrice and Hastings re.
fa Aahk
the per capita tax
The next group Includes twenty cities ranging in
population from 2Sst to siS These places reported
net debt OF HSS,ss5. increase OF SL63Hs or ISL
per cent. over the amount reported in 1902
There were ~ incorporated places the state with
population OF less than $500 in 1910 OF this number
go made reports to the bureau or these al
reported debt aggreEating 12SSS3S an increase ~
R.61ii4, or 2S4s per cent and q per CAPITA deb, .,
Ne%' oasing the per capita the population OF all
places reporting ~
The specified civil divisions" include drainage dis
uos ana townships The drainage districts reported
.otal Indebtedness OF %0Oe7 all OF which was special
assessment loans No sinking funds were reported by
these districts The townships reported total Az,
OF tlIS OF which tl,l6 represented funded or fired
ea,S1 speeial assessment loans; and s42 sSs out
sAnoihg warrants Sinking funds amounting to x4t
were reported leaving net debt of sS1 81
The Independent school districts OF the state "a
ported net debt OF SslSS7 in 1913 an increase of
NSii0. or So per cent. the amount renorted IN
lsn This amount does not represent the ept,ra IN
ueo'edness or the state schools but onIv
the debt OF those divisions which lie outside the bopn
onies OF those cities and towns having population
OF $500 ''"
Tue e'Vu divisions of the state, excepting school
uisulos reported gross Indebtedness amounting IN
S@~.SsS OF which 80, 2f ,76i $50 per cent renre
sehted FUNDED or fixed debt N75O7 or 1877 DER cent
special assessment loans 5000 t4 or Is per cant rs,
ehue loans and S2s6SS. or 30 per cent warrants A.
an offset to this debt the civil divisions reported ,n
ms iund assets amounting to 1924 s5 OF 30 per cent .,
e tota DEBT leaving net debt OF tS9756 lSo 20 h,.h
ou'u oe added the debt OF independent school az
seaj0 per capita " '''''i''"'' or
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