The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-08-09
TAX LEVY WILL Be
ELEVEN MILLS
City Council at Last Nights Meeting
Adopted the Budget FOR the
Ensuing Year


The city tax levy for the fiscal year
of 1916-17 will be II mills. Council
last night adopted the budget prepar-
ed by City Clerk Sistrunk without
change, except that Mr.. Sistrunk,s
suggestion, to let the profits from the
new plants take care of the retire
ment of the light and water bonds, as
the only means of making the levy
less than 13 mills, was agreed to.
With this exception the budget was
adopted unanimously. although Coun-
Gilman Moore had offered substitute
budget, proposing, among other
things, to reduce the millage by rais-
ing the light and water rates. The
law says that council shall provide .
sinking fund for the light and water
bonds, but council took the position
last night that it would be best to
take chance on providing the sink
ing funds out of the profits of the
new plants, in view of the abnormal
conditions now obtaining. 1t was
pointed out that should the profits OF
the plants fail to be sufficient to pro-
vide the sinking funds, the funds
could be provided for later with re-
funding issue. This would not be the
best maaner of providing for the
funds, it was said, but council felt
that it should take the chance so as TO
give as much relief as possible from
heavy taxation.
The estimate for the street depart
ment is placed at $3.50 as against
$8147 expended this year. Councilman
McIver, chairman of the street COM
mittee, stressed the Importance OF
having sufficient fund to take care
of the streets, calling attention to the
fact the city this year did not have
enough money to keep the streets re-
paired. Mr.. McIver was assured that
there would be enough money for this
purpose, his attention being called to
several items for the street depart
ment in this years budget that would
not have to be provided for in the new
budget. A steam roller and supply
of asphalt were items this year.
Protesting against the proposal to
reduce the millage by increasing the
rates on light and water, Councilman
Gerig said that it would not be at al
fair to make the few consumers bear
the burden of taxes that should be
borne by all.
In the budget proposed by Mr..
Moore is recommended reduction OF
the expense of light for public use
from $4,000 to s2400; and Mr.. Moore
says in this connection:
81 do not think the city ought to pay
more than 21z cents for this electri-
city furnished itself, and this is the
price which is charged TO any large
consumer Of. electricity. The city GER
tainly ought to supply itself with cleo
tricity as cheaply as it supplies an
outsider"
In his budget Mr.. Moore also re-
duces the hydrant rental from $3.50
to s2400, because from all the infor-
uidOtOH dfI4 dDl- W O0ScAAA AO tA9S
lieve that more than s2400 worth OF
water per year is ever used through
our fire hydrants for fire purposes. In
fact, understand that in great
many cities there is no charge made
for hydrant rental even when the
water plant is privately owned"
With reference to money to be rais-
ed for sinking fund and interest fund
for water works bonds and electric
light bonds, Mr.. Moors says, Il do
not think it just, neither do think it
good business to raise these funds
through geenral taxation. These
funds ought to be taken care of out
of electric light and water plants"
Mr.. Moore made no fight for his
budget. He voted with the rest Of the
council for. the budget prepared by
the city clerk.