The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-22
How The Goods Roads Bond
Issue Can Be Financed

,,.n the intelligent voter is asking
:, which ought to be answered in
:. thoroughly practicable and intel
=, manner is "how can the
,v commissioners finance sue
s,,lv the matter Of the proposed
issue for one million dollars
mad building in the county,"
~, it be shown in a clear and
,.,e.s way that the obligation in
,,,sa by Polk county. if the bond
',,ion should carry. can be met
rv and completely without handi-
.,ring the commissioners in the
rsr Of making necessary repairs
,oads and bridges outside the
".i,s of the proposed system of
.is the maintenance of the con-
-, etc.. and without materially
leasing the taxes Of the individ-
81 taxpayer?"
These questions have been asked
,,,ore and answered in general
Az This article proposes to an
%, them again in detail showing
,,v everything can be properly
.,sen care of on the lines suggested
" the questions.
LEI us take it for granted that a
80, issue for twelve hundred
,,,sand dollars will be necessary to
Mild the system of roads outlined
"A that the election to be held in
,,,i, or May will be favorable. 1t
iii in ali probability be Septem-
u, at the earliest, before any pro-
GODS would be available from the
ala of the bonds and no interest
,md he called for prior to the fall
!, 1917 1t has been proposed by
.ome of the commissioners, if not
unanimous, that twenty-five year
hands he issued and that the first
rfuudng payment be made on the
dYth year. That year for each sue
eseding year it is proposed to retire
$4,000 worth of the bonds. Dur
Inc the first five years, none of the
honds will mature and only the in
tsrest will have to be paid, amount
nr to 100000. The total income
from the road tax for the current
year Is mills on valuation of
n4552,SOO) will amount to $116,-
l!s4O. Approximately $4,000 of
This amount will be refunded to the
Incorporated towns in the county to
take care of the street work within
The corporate limits. One of the
commissioners has stated that it
costs $25, 900 a year to take care of
HE convicts, these three items total
Ing $685. 900. This will still leave
yl,422.00 available for work on
lateral roads and bridges not includ-
ID in the bonded system. These fig
ures, so far, relate only to the yea
1917 based on the assessed valuatio
br 1914. The figures, taken from
he books of the assessor, are as fol-
avs:
l9lO-s6,655,900
1911 7,S66,4S0.
1872 9,361,450.
lsl3-13,426,530.
ls14-14,552,S00.
II is not presumed that the most
anservative citizens of Polk county
viii question the estimate that the
sSessed value of the county will in
rease in much greater ratio this
nd succeeding years, and especially
and when the contemplated i'm
rNement is made, but taking only
he same ratio of increase quoted
Dove, averaging % per cent pei
mum and the assessed value fol
Dis will be $17,754,416, yielding
nth the same millage, $142,O35,32
Adueting from this amount the in
s'sst of 100000, maintenance Of
aavicts $4,000 and 100000 re-
saded to incorporate towns, or
Aal OF 100000, there will pe
Hailable for work on lateral ROADS
I'd bridges not included in the
snded system, a balance of $37,'
@'OO. At the same ratio OF in
fease, the assessed valuation FOL
VIZ will be $21,660,3s7. yieldins
'thout an increased millage, $17S,
a'.Os. Deducting the same charges
above, amounting to $1O5,OOo
ae'e will be an available balance Of
m,2S3 for work on lateral roads
"a bridges not included in th'
aaded system.
At the same ratio of increase, the
s'essed valuation for 1918 will be
@a25.s72, yielding without in
'sased millage $211,405.76. De
Heting the same charges, as before