The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-19

One Oh the important queSliohO
which the intelligent voter is asking
and which ought to be answered in
thoroughly practicable and intel
Iigent 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 a clear and
concrete way that the obligation in
Cured by Polk county. if the bond
election should carry. can be met
fully and completely without handi-
Gaping the commissioners in the
matter Of making necessary repairs
to roads and bridges outside the
limits of the proposed system of
roads, the maintenance of the con-
victs, etc, and without materially
, increasing the taxes Of the individ-
ual taxpayer"
These questions have been asked
before and answered in a general
way. This 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 Septem-
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 he 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 6 mills on valuation OF
$500 will amount to $116,.
422.40. Approximately $4,000 OF
this amount will be refunded to the
incorporated towns in the county tt
take care of the street work within
the corporate limits. One of thu
commissioners has stated that i
costs $4,000 year to take care o
the convicts, these three items total
ing 100000. This will still leav
: $11.42200 available for work OF
r lateral roads and bridges not includ
ed in the bonded system. These fig
ures, so far, relate only to the yea
q 1917 based on the assessed valuatio
e for 1914. The figures, taken fror
r the books of the assessor, are as fol
s lows
1910---$6, $4,000.
1911- 7,S66,4S0
!, 1912 9,361,45O.
= 1878, 426,530.
1914-14,552, $500
n 1t is not presumed that the mo-
conservative citizens of Polk count
will question the estimate that I'll
assessed value of the county will IL
If crease in much greater ratio tn
l. and succeeding years, and especial
1t as and when the contemplated in
lie provement is made, but taking on
: the same ratio of increase quote
$ above, (averaging % per cent p
annum) and the assessed value 4
1916 will be $17.754,416, yieldir
with the same millage, $142,035.3
t. Deducting from this amount the /
lie terest of 100000, maintenance
p convicts $4,000 and $4,000 r
IS funded to incorporate towns, or
Or total of 100000, there will
y available for work on lateral roa
e. and bridges not included in t
he bonded system, a balance of So
+ 035.00. At the same ratio of
\" crease, the assessed valuation (
1917 will be s21.660.3S7, yieldi
without an increased millage, SIT
2S309 Deducting the same charg
e as above. amounting to s105,0(
IN there will be an available balance
Oh s6S.2S for work on lateral roa
Sn and bridges not included in t
Is bonded system.
e.
e. At the same ratio of increase,
to assessed valuation for 1918 will
or 26.425,672, yielding without
lis creased millage S211, 405.76. |
~. Quoting the same charges, as befo