The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-11
How The Goods Roads Bond
Issue Can Be Financed

One of the important questions
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 it be shown In q clear and
concre'. way that the obligation in
CURED by Polk county, II the bond
election should carry. can be met
fully and completely without handi-
capring 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 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-
ber at the earliest, before any pro-
ceeds would be available from the
sale of the bonds and no interest
would be called for prior to the fall
of 1917. 1t has been proposed by
some of the commissioners, if not
unanimous, that twenty-five veal
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 thu
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 curren
year Is mills on valuation o
s14,552,SOO) will amount to SIG,
422.4O. Approximately $4,000 o
this amount will be refunded to tn
incorporated towns in the county t.
take care Of the street work within
the corporate limits. One of tn
commissioners has stated that !
costs $25, 900 a year to take care o
the convicts, these three items total
ing 100000. This will still leav
s11,422.0O available for work Of
lateral roads and bridges not includ
ed in the bonded system. These fig
ures, SO far, relate only to the yea
1917 based on the assessed valuatio
for 1914. The figures, taken froI
the books of the assessor, are as To-
lows:
19l0-$6,655,900.
I'LL 7,866,4S0.
1872 9,361.450.
1913-13,426,530
) 1914-14,552,800.
1t is not presumed that the mos
conservative citizens of Polk count
will question the estimate that tn
assessed value of the county will In
: crease in much greater ratio TIL
and succeeding years. and especial
!. as and when the contemplated In
provement is made, but taking oni
the same ratio of increase quote
above, (averaging % per cent pc
annum) and the assessed value fo
1916 will be $17,754, 416, yieldin
! with the same millage, $142,O35.o'
| Deducting from this amount the II
terest of 100000, maintenance {
| convicts $4,000 and $4,000 r.
funded to incorporate towns, or
| total of sos, 900, there will |
| available for work on lateral roat
| and bridges not included in IL
| bonded system, balance OF $37
| O35.0O. At the same ratio OF II
| crease. the assessed valuation II
1917 will be 21,660,3S7, yieldir
without an increased millage, $17S
2S3.O9. Deducting the same charg
as above, amounting to $4,000
there will be an available balance
seS,2s3 for work on lateral roa
and bridges not included in Il
=, bonded system.
III At the same ratio of increase, u
Hi assessed valuation for 1918 will
H s26,425,672. yielding without i
iii creased millage s211,405.76. ID
iii Quoting the same charges, as befor