The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-11

amounting to 100000, there will
be an available balance of $106,405
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 100000 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 $50,
600 every succeeding year unit
| twenty such payments have beer
made. thus reducing the entire bont
issue in twenty-five years from date
This plan will enable the com
| missioners to have the use of thu
following amounts, which is the bal
ance of the road tax each year, afte
allowing for refund to incorporated
towns and maintenance of con
victs;
| 1861 1.422.00.
1917 37,035.O0.
1915 6S,2S3.00.
1919-1O6,405.00.
192O-152,914.0O or a total O
$376,O59.OO which, If properly eH
pen ed. ought to put in good shap
every lateral road in the county.
In 1921, not counting any increas
whatever in assessed value and wit
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 funt
This will make the total expenoi
lures $16O, 900 and the availabl
balance $92,914.
This, 1t is believed that it wi
easily be seen that the bond issu
can easily be financed even without
the increase of single mill OF
taxes over that now assessed ant
that the lateral roads can also b
ltken care of much easier than will
out a bond issue, because 211 mile
iof roads, needing expensive and cor
slant repair, will be out Of the wa
for several years to come.
Absolute accuracy Is not elaine
for the foregoing figures, but 6
their basis has been obtained frol
an authoritative source, the COZ
structive items are approximate
correct.
Only the pessimist will object
the very conservative estimate wit
regard to increased valuation an
it should be well understood tia
this increased assessment will NJ
come so much from the increase
, value of property now carrying
reasonable valuation as from lant
. now assessed at only few dollaI
per acre which lack of roads are m
now desirable for agricultural an
, development purposes.
, The taxpayer should rememb
: that his willingness to pay Il
= taxes. on which the above figur
: are based, is not asked. He is pa
: ing mills road tax now. He WI
r continue to pay that and more wit
2 out a bond issue and while waitir
: until he comes to die for the go'
8 roads he desires to use now. II
j., 8 mill tax he Is now paying,
( shown by the foregoing figure
S with only very reasonable al
e conservative dependence on the I
ture, as shown by the past, will ia
e care of the bond issue and all Z
e other necessary obligations. TIL
: what is the object of waiting?-
: Published by direction of the Pc