Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-11-19
TWO PLANS FOR WATER
SYSTEM UP TO VOTERS
Referendum Petition Asks for Submission Of Question Of
Purchase Of Present Plant at $4,000, and Council
Votes to Submit Also the Proposition Of Issuing $780,
900 Bonds for the Building Of an Entire New System

The voters OF Grants Pass car
choose between two propositions fol
the municipal ownership OF the
water plant. or II can reject both. ai
the election 10 be held on December
Is. One proposition which Will ap-
pear upon the ballot through the ini-
tiation petition route provides for the
purchase OF the present plant al
100000. bonds to be issued for that
amount bearing Ave per cent interest
II majority OF the voters fayors the
purchase. These bonds will be ac-
cepted ut their par value by the own
ers OF the plant and will be payable
In installments for period OF 20
years. The resolution providing for
the submission Of the purchase pro-
position TO the voters was adopted
upon the Affirmative vote OF five
members OF the council. Burke and
Davis opposing.
Immediately after the adoption Of
the resolution providing for the vote
upon the purchase plan. Councilman
Caldwell moved that the voters also
be given an opportunity to vote upon
q bond issue OF $4,000 for the con-
struction OF new water system. The
mayor called attention to the likeli-
hood OF being unable to sell bonds
for the construction OF q new plant
with a competing plant in the field.
but Caldwell thought that II the own
ers OF the old plant would accept
bonds In payment for II, that prob
ably some contractor could be found
who would build a new plant and
take bonds Ia payment. Caldwell met
the argument that $4,000 might not
build q new plant complete with the
statement that II not sufficient more
funds could be provided later. This
motion for the submission of the
bond issue plan for the new plant to
the voters carried. five councilmen
voting In Its favor, Those opposing
were Messrs. Burkhalter, Demaray
and Herman. An adjourned meeting
OF the council will be held for the
adoption OF the ordinance necessary
to put this issue up to the voters,
Budget Is Adopted
The finance committee presented
Its report covering the estimates for
expenses for 1916. Under the bud
get a tax levy OF 16 mills will be re-
quired, s mills for general purposes
and for special levy, This levy
upon the assessed valuation within
the city of s2,666.77O will produce
$21,334.16 for each fund, a total of
$42,66S.32. Other sources OF rev.
enue make a total OF s50.050 avail
able during the coming year.
A levy OF 16 mills is the limit al
lowed under the charter, so that the
council finds itself obliged to cut its
garment according to the cloth avail
able, II could find little opportunity
for pruning over the budget of last
year, and could provide for practical
ly no new work. The general levy
OF eight mills would raise s2,S40 for
general government, From this fund
comes the salary OF the auditor and
police Judge, at 1880. Last year
$500 was allowed for this item, the
auditor being obliged to furnish his
own office help, The attorneys sal
ary Is placed at $500, a reduction Of
one-half from the salary paid during
1915. The treasurer's salary is s240
per year, and $500 is provided for
office supplies, exporting the city
books, elections, etc "
For the police department the bud
get provides s2,500, salary for the
chief at $4,000, FOR one policeman
at $1,000, for specials at s120, and
incidental expenses OF s160. N
The estimated expense OF the Are
department Is taken care OF In a fund
OF $2,7s0, Of which $s6o is salary
FOR the nre chief, $1,000 for his as
sistants. $500 for volunteers and
$500 for maintenance. 'Nea