The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-12

~ SA0csVSSs SANAN ''N
be an available balance of $780, 05
for work on lateral roads and bridges
not included in the bonded system.
At the same ratio Of increase, the
assessed valuation for 1919 will be
$32,239,319. yielding without in
creased millage $257,914.55. De-
Quoting the same charges as before,
amounting to $105.Oo0 there will
be an available balance of $152,914
for work on lateral roads and
bridges not included in the bonded
system.
These figures, remember, do not
include any increase in the assessed
valuation in the county by reason
of the building Of 211 miles Of hard
surfaced roads, but only the same
ratio Of increase which has accrued
with our present roads. What the
increase will be after the proposed
system of roads shall have been built
and even during construction, is not
easy to compute but results from ad-
Joining counties have shown in a
general way that this increase has
been tremendous.
Before closing this article, how
ever,it is necessary, of course. to
say something about the refunding
of the bonds, for which in the fore
going figures no provision has been
made. 1t is believed, as has been
said already. that the commission
ers favor the plan of making the
first bond of 100000 come due five
years after date and to take up $780,
600 every succeeding year until
twenty such payments have been
made. thus reducing the entire bond
issue in twenty-five years from date
This plan will enable the COM
missioners to have the use of the
following amounts, which is the bal
ance of the road tax each year, after
allowing for refund to incorporated
towns and maintenance Of con
victs:
1851. 422.00.
| 1917 37,O35.00.
! 1915 6S,2S3.O0.
| 1919-1O6,4 05.O0.
/ 192O-I52,914.00 or a total q
$376,059.OO which. if properly ex
pended, ought to put in good shap'
every lateral road in the county.
In 1921, not counting any increas'
whatever in assessed value and will
the same income as the previou
year, viz: $257,914.55, there will
have to be provided an extra expen
| diture of 100000 for sinking fund
This will make the total expenui
, lures $4,000 and the availabl
balance $92,914.
This, it is believed that 1t viii
easily be seen that the bond issu
r can easily be financed even without
n the increase of single mill OF
n taxes over that now assessed anf
: that the lateral roads can also b
ltken care of much easier than with
out bond issue, because 211 mile
of roads, needing expensive and con
slant repair, will be out of the wa
~.-o,oI ,,oo rc N o0vuo
Absolute accuracy is not elaine
4 for the foregoing figures, but
v their basis has been obtained frol
a an authoritative source, the COZ
structive items are approximate
3 correct.
" Only the pessimist will object
i. the very conservative estimate wit
v regard to increased valuation an
a it should be we'll understood tn;
r. this increased assessment will NJ
r. come SO much from the increase
q value of property now carrying
I. reasonable valuation as from LAM
l. now assessed at only few dolla
II per acre which lack of roads are n
q now desirable for agricultural al
a development purposes.
,e The taxpayer should rememb
Is that his willingness to pay t
,e taxes. on which the above figur
- are based, is not asked. He is pa
A. ing 8 mills road tax now. He W
or continue to pay that and more wit
,g out bond issue and while waltz
B. until he comes to die for the go
es roads he desires to use now. t
o, s mill tax he is now paying,
of shown by the foregoing fgur
DIS with only very reasonable a
he conservative dependence on the
ture, as shown by the past, will ia
he care of the bond issue and all
be other necessary obligations. tn
n what is the object of waiting?
)e- Published by direction of the p