Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-22
Mayor Viles' Review
Of Accomplishments
by Administration

The city council held Its regular
monthly meeting Monday evening and
transacted business as follows:
In Convention
At the opening of the meeting the
two branches met in joint convention
in the council room and Mayor Viles
read the following review Of the years
work, the same being accepted
| propose at this time to review
briefly the affairs of the city as adj
ministered the past year. 1t is not
my purpose to present a cumbersome
report prepared for political uses and
filled with unnecessary and uncalled
for comparisons. l believe the ma
jority of the citizens of Augusta are
interested in the business affairs of
the city while only a minority are ac-
lively interested in politics and the
majority are entitled to a straight
forward account Of the stewardship Of
this administration set forth in simple
terms. l will therefore now attempt
with this brief explanatory introduce
ton, to place before the public state
ment of the years business, expressed
and entirely. I hope. in such manner
that all who are interested in the at
fairs Of the city may understand
First Of all will say that l am es-
pecially pleased that We have no
apologies to make. 1t sometimes hap
pens that unfortunate events bring
about conditions that call for both ex-
PLANTATION and apology to the citizens
who place their trust in city govern
ment, but good fortune has attended
this administration throughout the
year and we approach the close with
clean official slate. so clean that I con-
slider it at once a duty and privilege
to commend the officials who compose
the present administration, all of
whom. to my own personal knowledge.
have fulfilled the obligations of their
offices conscientiously, thoroughly, and
efficiently.
Finance.
The valuation of the city for the
year 1915 as returned by the board Of
assessor was sS,3S6,06S, as compared
with SS,499,74S for 1914. The tax rate
for both years was 26 mills. This diff
ference in valuation reduced the reve-
nue. from tax assessments $3,291.9 5.
The State and county tax for the year
1915 was $59.015.60. as against $751;,
932.6S for 1914, necessary increased
expenditure for the city Of $7,0S2.92.
We received from the State in 1915 for
2S5.36: in 1914 the sum of S16,36210
was received, making a difference of
s1.076.74. These items show de-
crease in money received by this ad-
ministra ton of $11.451.61 as compared
with the receipts for 1914.
We have reduced the bonded indebt-
edness of the city $500. This amount
together with the $4,000 to be deposited
to the credit Of the sinking fund on
February 80, for which appropriation
has been made. makes a total reduc-
ton in bonded indebtedness Of $4,000.
In 1915 the city's refunding bonds
for $4,000 were issued at Az per cent
and Melted a premium Of $1,031.25.
This premium was not called for as
returns Of $4,000 only were necessary
to refund the old Sprague bonds and
the s1,031.25 was, in effect, money hired
by the city for current expenses. This
year bonds for $4,000 were issued ac-
cording to the established practice.
but the interest rate of this issue is
per cent. This effects saving to the
city Of one-half Of one per cent inter-
est on $4,000 for % years. A pre-
MUM, Of $424 was received. The pre-
MUM of $1,03125 received last year
and applied to current expenses cost
the city $4,000. or one-half Of one per
CONTINUED on Pace 9-Column II