The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-07
How The Good Roads Bond
Issue Can Be Financed

which the intelligent voter is asking
and which ought to be answered in
a thoroughly practicable and intel
ligent manner is how can the
county commissioners finance sue
cessfully the matter of the proposed
bond issue for one million dollars
for road building in the county,"
Can 1t be shown in q clear and
concrete way that the obligation in
CURED by Polk county. il the bond
election should carry. can be met
fully and completely without handi-
capping the commissioners in the
matter Of making necessary repairs
to roads and bridges outside the
limits Of tho proposed system Of
roads. the maintenance Of the con-
victs. ETC.. and without materially
the taxes Of the individ-
ual taxpayer!"
These questions have been asked
before and answered in general
way. The article proposes to an
swer them again in detail showing
how everything can be properly
taken care Of on the lines suggested
by the questions.
Let us take it for granted that a
bond issue for twelve hundred
thousand dollars will be necessary to
build the system of roads outlined
and that the election to be held in
April or May will be favorable. 1t
will, in all probability be Septen-
Der, at the earliest, before any pro-
ceeds would be available from the
sale of the bonds and no interest
would he called for prior to the fall
Of 1917. 1t has been proposed by
some of the commissioners, If not
unanimous, that twenty-five year
bonds be issued and that the first
refunding payment be made on the
sixth year. That year for each sue
ceeding year it is proposed to retire
$4,000 worth of the bonds. Dur
ing the first five years, none Of the
bonds will mature and only the in
terest will have to be paid, amount
ing to 100000. The total income
from the road tax for the current
year e mills on valuation OF
$14,552,S00) will amount to $11S,-
422.40. Approximately $4,000 of
this amount will be refunded to the
incorporated towns In the county to
take care Of the street work within
the corporate limits. One Of the
commissioners has stated that It
costs $2S,oeS . year to take care OF
the colvists. thsss three items total
ing $1oS.oo0. This will still leave
$11.43i.eo available fer work On
lateral roads and bridges net inslsd-
ed In the bonded system. These Ag-
ures, - far, relate only to TIE year
1917 based on the assassd valuation
for 1914. The figures. taken fren
the books of the assessor, are as fol-
lows:
1s1e-$e,s55,90s.
1911 7.SSs,4Se.
1917 s,3S1,46o.
1913-13,42s,530.
1s14-14,551.soe.
1t Ia not presumed that the most
conservative citizens Of Polk county
will question the estimate that the
assessed value of the county will in
crease in much greater ratio this
and succeeding years, AID especially
as and when the Contemplated in
provensnt 10 made, but taking enly
the same ratio Of Increase quoted
above, (avsraSiAg % Per cent per
annun) and the assssssA value for
1915 will be sl7.754.41s. yielding
with the sane nAllage. $143,eSS.s3.
Dedusting from this amount The In
forest Of Ss0.ess. maintenance Of
convicts $4,000 AID $4,000 re-
funded to incorporate tovns. or =
total Of 3105.eoo, there will ~
available for work q lateral rseAs
and bridges not included In ths
bonde system, balance Of 49,
035.0O. At the same ratio q In
crease, the assessed valuation fer
1917 will be $21,sSo,3s7. yielding
without an increased millaxe, $1fs,-
$500. Deducting the same charges
as above, amounting to $1sS,sss,
there will be an available balance of
s6S,283 for work on lateral roads
and bridges not included in the
bonded system.
At the same ratio of increase, the
assessed valuation for 1918 will be
26,425,672. yielding without in
creased millage $211,405.76. De-
Quoting the same charges, as before,