The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-12
How The Goods Roads Bond
Issue Can Be Financed

One of the important questions
which the intelligent voter is asking
and which ought to be answered in
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 clear and
concrete way that the obligation in
CURED by Polk county, If the bond
election should carry, can be met
fully aud 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 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 a
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 he called for prior to the fall
of 1917. 1t has been proposed by
some of the commissioners, If no,
unanimous, that twenty-five yeal
bonds be issued and that the mrs.
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 tn
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 curren
year Is mills on valuation
s14.552.SOO) will amount to $116,
422.4O. Approximately $4,000 o
this amount will be refunded to tn
incorporated towns in the county t
take care of the street work withil
the corporate limits. One OF tn
commissioners has stated that l
| costs $4,000 year to take care O
the convicts, these three items total
| ing 100000. This will still leav
| s11,422.0O available for work o.
lateral roads and bridges not includ
! ed in the bonded system. These ne
| ures, so far, relate only to the yea
| 1917 based on the assessed valuatio
| for 1914. The figures, taken fro
| the books of the assessor, are as TO
lows:
II 1910-$6,655,900.
II 19l1- 7,S66,4s0.
II 1912 9.361,450.
II 1913-13,426,530.
1914-14,552,S00.
1t is not presumed that the mo
conservative citizens of Polk count
will question the estimate that II
assessed value of the county will II
- crease in much greater ratio tn
and succeeding years, and especial
:, as and when the contemplated In
provement is made. but taking on
1.-THE same ratio of increase quote
above, (averaging % per cent p
annum) and the assessed value Z
1e16 will be $17,754,416, yieldir
with the same millage, $142,035.3
Deducting from this amount the !
terest of 100000, maintenance
conyicts s25,O00 and $4,000 7
funded to incorporate towns, or
total of 100000, there will
available for work on lateral roa
and bridges not included IN I
bonded system, balance of 10
os5.Oo. At the same ratio OF
crease, the assessed valuation
1917 will be s21,660,3s7, yield
without an increased millage,. SIT
$500. Deducting the same chars
as above, amounting to $1,000
there will be an available balance
s6s,2S3 for work on lateral ros
and bridges not included in
~, bonded system.
|lII At the same ratio Of increase,
Hill assessed valuation for 1918 will
lllh s26.425,6 72. yielding without
lIlIIl creased millage $211,405.76.
HIN ducting the same charges, as befo