The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-14
How The Goods Roads Bond
Issue Can Be Financed

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
concrete way that the obligation in
CURED by Polk county, if the bond
election should carry. can be met
fully and completely without handi-
Gaping 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 a 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 q
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-
Der, 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, II not
unanimous, that twenty-five year
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
r ing to 100000. The total incom
from the road tax for the curren
r year 6 mills on a valuation
r $14,552,SOO) will amount to $116'
> 422.4O. Approximately $4,000 o
= this amount will be refunded to tn
o incorporated towns in the county I
n take care of the street work with
= the corporate limits. One of tn
commissioners has stated that
J; costs $4,000 a year to take care
: the convicts, these three items tota
Va ing $105.o00. This will still leav
u s11,422.O0 available for work o
lateral roads and bridges not inclu'
ed in the bonded system. These nj
ures, SO far, relate only to the yes
II 1917 based on the assessed valuatic
for 1914. The figures, taken fro
the books of the assessor, are as TO
lows:
1910-$6,655,900.
1911- 7,S66,4SO.
1872 9,361,450.
1913-13,426,53o.
!, 1s14-14,552,SO0.
Ii IT il not presumed that the mo
conservative citizens of Polk coun
will question the estimate that Il
assessed value of the county will 1
crease in much greater ratio tn
- and succeeding years. and especial
as and when the contemplated II
proyement Is made, but taking on
1.-THE same ratio of increase quot
above, averaging % per cent p
annum) and the assessed value {
1916 will be $17.754.416, yieldiI
with the same millage. $142,035.3
Deducting from this amount the 1
terest Of $4,000, maintenance
convicts $4,000 and $4,000 r
funded to incorporate towns. or
total of 100000. there will
available for work on lateral roa
and bridges not included in t
bonded system, balance of 49,
O35.00. At the same ratio OF !
crease, the assessed valuation
1917 will be s21, 660,3S7, yieldil
without an increased millage, SIT
$500. Deducting the same charg
as above, amounting to $4,000
there will be an available balance
s6S,2S3 for work on lateral roa
and bridges not included in t
bonded system.
MN At the same ratio of increase, t
HIM assessed valuation for 1918 will
|I s26.425,672, yielding without
|I creased millage s211,405.76. |
|l Quoting the same charges, as befo