The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-24

rhich the luteiiison@ 'oeei Is dsRln
a which ought to be answered in
,boroughly practicable and intel
'-,,t manner is how can the
snD,y commissioners finance sue
..sfnlly the matter Of the proposed
I'D issue for one million dollars
:. road building in the county,
.r.n it be shown in clear and
,,Dcreto way that the obligation in
.,--ed by Polk county, if the bond
.,.ction should carry. can be met
s,l,v and completely without handi-
,,npipg the commissioners in the
.s,ter of making necessary repairs
= roads and bridges outside the
limits Of the proposed system of
.,ads the maintenance of the con
.,a, ETC., and without materially
i,creasing the taxes of the individ-
nal taxpayer?
These questions have been asked
before and answered in general
ray This article proposes to an
.rpr them again in detail showing
INV everything can be properly
,,spp care of on the lines suggested
sy the questions.
Lei us take it for granted that a
hopj issue for twelve hundred
,holsand dollars will be necessary to
bijd the system of roads outlined
and that the election to be held in
,nrI or May will be favorable. 1t
will in all probability be Septem-
her at the earliest, before any pro-
ceads would be available from the
sale of the bonds and no interest
would be called for prior to the fall
If 1917. 1t has been proposed by
some of the commissioners, if not
unanimous, that twenty-five year
bonds be issued and that the first
rtunding 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
inc the first five years, none of the
bonds will mature and only the in
terest will have to be paid, amount
Inc to 100000. The total income
from the road tax for the current
year Is mills on valuation of
sl4.552,S00) will amount to $116,-
1910. Approximately 100000 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 5000 a year to take care of
the convicts, these three items total
ing 100000. This will still leave
sl1,422,OO available for work on
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 from
the books of the assessor, are as fol-
lows:
19lO-s6,655,9 900.
1911 7,S66,4S0.
1912 9,361,450.
1913-13,426,530.
1s14-14,552,SO0.
1t is not presumed that the most
conservative citizens Of Polk county
will question the estimate that the
assessed value of the county will in
crease in much greater ratio this
and succeeding years, and especially
as and when the contemplated i'm
provement is made, but takins only
the same ratio of increase quoteo
iboye, (averaging % per cent pei
annuml and the assessed value for
1916 will be $17,754,416, yielding
With the same millage. $142,OS5.S1
Deducting from this amount the in
isrest of 100000, maintenance oil
cOnvicts $4,000 and $4,000 re-
funded to incorporate towns, or
total of s1O5,0O0, there will Dc
AVAILABLE for work on lateral ROADS
and bridges not included in the
bonded system, a balance Of 49,
$500. At the same ratio of IN
crease, the assessed valuation toi
1917 will be $21, 660,3S7, yielding
without an increased millage, slf5'
$500. Deducting the same charges
Is above. amounting to s105,oOo
there will be an available balance o.
1929 for work on lateral rsaa'
aud bridges not included in tn'
bonded system.
At the same ratio of increase, th'
assessed valuation for 1918 will o.
Es.425.s72. yielding without In
Creased millage $211,405.76. De
tuctinp tho sauna cbarpea "a before