The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-03

One of the important questions
which the intelligent voter is askin g
and which ought to be answered in
a thoroughly practicable and intel
iligent 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 1t be shown in a clear and
concre's way that the obligation in
CURED by Polk county, if the bond
election should carry, can be met
fully and completely without handi-
capring 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-
sicts, ETC., and without materially
increasing hejtaxes 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 9
bond issue for twelve hundred
thousand dollars will be necessary tt
build the system of roads outlined
and that the election to be held il
April or May will be favorable. II
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 fal
of 1917. 1t has been proposed by
some of the commissioners, if not
Unanimous, that twenty-five veal
bonds be issued and that the frs
refunding payment be made on the
sixth year. That year for each sue
ceeding year 1t is proposed to retire
$4,000 worth of the bonds. Dur
ing the first five years, none of the
bonds will mature and only the in
terest will have to be paid, amount
ing to 100000. The total income
from the road tax for the current
year 6 mills on a valuation Of
$14, 5000 will amount to SIG,
422.4O. approximately $4,000 Of
this amount will be refunded to the
incorporated towns in the county t(
take care of the street work within
the corporate limits. One of the
commissioners has stated that II
costs $25, 900 year to take care o.
the convicts, these three items total
ing $105,000. This will still leave
$11. 422.00 available for work or
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 valuation
for 1914 The figures, taken from
the books of the assessor, are as fol
lows:
1910-$6,6 800.
| f911- 7,S66,48O.
1912 9.361,45O.
3.426,53O.
| 1914-14,552,SOO.
1t is not presumed that the mos
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 taking only
the same ratio of increase quoted
above. (averaging % per cent pei
annum) and the assessed value fol
1916 will be $17,754. 416, yielding
with the same millage, $142,035.3 q
iiohi thio dhiouht thC IA
terest of 100000, maintenance OF
convicts $4,000 and $4,000 re-
funded to incorporate towns, or a
total of $105.000, there will be
available for work on lateral roads
and bridges not included in the
\ bonded system, balance of $37,-
035.00. At the same ratio of in
crease. the assessed valuation for
1917 will be $21.660.3s7. yielding
without an increased millage, $17S,-
$500. Deducting the same charges
as above. amounting to 100000,
there will be an available balance OF
$68.2S3 for work on lateral roads
and bridges not included in the
bonded system.
At the same ratio of increase. the
assessed valuation for 1918 will be
26.425,672. yielding without in
creased millage s211,405.76. De-
i Quoting the same charges as before.