Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-28

Tx
l. That the tax rate as levied by the
three local bodies having power Of tax
alton IN 1915 was 62.1 as against a total
Levy BY srd al taxing e. hedies: ine1qdins the
Prior to 1915 the taxable property
within the city was assessed at from
$3.50 to 40%c. Of it's actual value. while
farm lands. and other similar property
1O% to $50 this discrimination against
the city has been in part corrected, re-
suitin9 in a decrease in the assessed
crease in the tax rate as levied by the
school board. he city. and the park
board. the three taxing? bodies of the
city.
But this does not completely explain
should be noted: =
"a, The school! board tax levies have
,nsresse % from In 49, 1s} 600 90 90 in ,ncrs ss. ~ t a9
s5o,soo.oo or about SAC: this il caused
largely by the construction of the new
school as we'll as by the increase in pop
a ada 10 the tax levy in 1s15 was sl21.-
crease during the year of $4,000 90 or
about 5 mills on the dollar upon the as
sessed valuation of each tax payers pro-
perty.
1919 by the city was s7s.5oe.6So: i IN is1 Is
ss1.s75:oo. or an increase Of ss,175.o0.
poses sc. Was IN 's s7s, TO- 'ex i, Levy ,s, for Sly gS S6:
there was no material increase in the
actual operating expenses of the city,
although the constantly increasing
prices had its natural effect; the in
Of the following items: Motor Are en-.
CINE $S.0no.O0 Increase in cost Of care
Of streets, 100000 which Increase
ARISES arise lar ,arssl h from Tie additional pave
on; we now operate three sprinklers
having been compelled to practically
double the s%prinkling force within thu.
1fst sits!s Health shsre d %epsrt%sn, $1,000;
Improvement. $e.a5o.oo: the ctty.s share
OF ornamental lighting $1.700.O0 and re-
pairing the GriEgs avenue trunk sewer.
$4,000: there We're savings and reduc-
tons in other departments which par
TALLY overcome these unusual and OK
traordiEary expenses.
20 The bridges have been p prolific
appropriation for bridge purposes was
!l.5oo.o %; In 1915, ss.35O.00. and in 1915
The bridges are in such u condition
the usual thing; they ave beco.n. dan
gcrous and must very soon be replaced
with new bridges and this is an expense
which mus be reckoned with and Of
which I will speak TO you under another
head. - !.
Examination of'the foregoing 4s,rcs
will reveal ttat there is but little oppor-
.uuu4.S Aot kiedl sdNlnsS III your ADMIN
istration but I" earnestly commend 10
you the most careful effort. 10 the end
that there be no unnecessary rxpenli-
ture OF the tax payers money. ''
e. The 1riaxss.
This L. one of .tne 0 Important
matters that will come up in the: near
future: the. bridges. across the Red
River Of the North we're built abou: so
years ago and they. have practically out
lived their usefulness ana are now in a
condition to arouse apprehension: during
the past two years more than Sic, 900. no
has been paid out in repairs n much
more must soon be raid for thu sulns
purpose. -
The bridges are worn out and must Be
replaced with new structures; tn .re
bridges are interstate highways and the
traffic borne by them Is entirely md
wholly interstate traffic; It 10 unjust'nnd
unfair that our people should bear. the
burden Of the expense Of constructing
these bridges or. Of their repair and
carried either by the states OF North
Dakota and Minnesota or by the coun-
ties Of Polk and Grand Forks.
An investigation. has, been made BY
your oridge committee as Z result Of
which 1t appears that such interstate
bridge. over nayissble streams, Ar
the counties In h adjoining st1teS; II
this case, Polk county. Mimi, and Grand
Forks county, North Dakota, althouEh
not i~nfreouently q portion thereof n
borne by the cities connected. thereby.
II tina expense n not divided In. this
naIner then the usual eustonnas for the
ital and TO be operated 40 . toll bridge,
Il. the. counties 81 Grand Forks nd
Polk will not undertake. the constr0Sa
lion Of these brt6GeaI ] yseommona q