The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1916-03-03
MAYOR WATTS STATEMENT.


10 the voters Of the City Of Ath-
ena:--In the past few days, inuum.
erahle questions have been asked me
relative to the financial condition of
the town. I find that the city records
are very imperfect and 1t is excsedinR-
" difficult to find accurate and COM
plete statements. For the benefit of
those who are interested in the affairs
OF the city. aud those who were un-
able to attend the meeting 10 the
High school auditorium Wednesday
evening. am submitting a synopsis
of the finances for the past few years,
showing what it has taken to run the
city; what it is costing now; what
our Indebtedness is and when oreated.
There Is now $28, 900. 90 bonded in
debtedness, $4,000 of this was issued
in 1895 and was payable in 20 years |;
last January we had to re-bond to take
up this. There was no sinking fund to
meet these bonds. In 1905, $18, 900. 90
more were issued. The annual inter-
est on this amounts to $3.50. 90; these
are all water bonds.
What the outstanding warrants were
10 1905, lam unable to find tut pre-
sumo that all the Indebtedness was
taken up in the bonds issued at that
time.
The first report find on financial
conditions was December 1911.
There were then, beside the bonded
indebtedness | have spoken Of. out
standing warrants of $10.054.81: cash
on hands $l539. 90; sinking fund of
about $4,000.
On December 6, 1915 there were
outstanding warrants Of $2400. 90;
cash on hand $113s. 20 sinking fund Of
$l240. SO.
You can see that from the yearl905
until 1911 the city ran behind some
thing like $4,000. From 1911 until
1915, the running expenses we've kept
up and approximately $S000O0 Of in
dettedness paid.
In the year 1908. Mr.. Taylor was
mnyor and o. A. Barrett was coun-
Gilman. The assessed valuation of
the city was $161, 10000; it cost
$4675.0 90 to run during the wear, or an
expenditure of approximately 81 for
every S35 valuation.
In 1904, and 1905. Mr.. Taylor was
mayor and Mr.. Barrett was on the
council and In 1904 the assessed valu-
alton was $185.143.00 and tbe run
Mug expenses were over $l1, 100000 or
an expenditure of FL for every $l7 Of
valuation. In 1905, the assessed val
uation WAS $3.50, 5l.00; expenditures
were over $17, 10000, or an expend-
iture Of 81 for every $l1.00 in val
uation.
Under the present administration,
1t has cost the city $860000 to run !;
the assessed valuation is s603. 1888. 90 !;
or 81 in every $40.
In 1904 and 1905, thore were exten
sive improvements made in the city |;
the water system at Gallagher Springs
was completed In 1905. 1t cost the
present administration something like
$4,000. 90 to maintain this water sys
tenn. tesides the interest on The water
bonds. There have heen some per-
manent improvements made In the
city under the present administration.
But the people in nsking questions ms
| to the financial condition of the civ,
seldom ask what Improvements have
you built, tut how much Indebtedness
have you created?
As early as 1909 / hnd that the city
then estimated that 1t cost $4,000. 90
approximately. for the u2keep OF the
water system and payment, Of the in
terest on the water tonds, as shown
by the following report:
Athena, Oregon, Nov. 20, 1909.
10 the Mayor and council, Athena,
Ore.
Gentlemen: The Athena Water
Commission submits the following
estimate of expenses for 1910, for
which we respectfully ask that your
honorable body cause tax to be levied
to meet same. viz:
Interest on water tonds, S1523. 80
Sinking fund, 500. 90
Repairs to pipe line. new coup
lings and other necessary re-
pairs teatimated) 500. 90
-, ,528, sc
We urge TINT Ynu levy the limit oil