Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-11-17
CITY OFFICIALS
WILL CONVENE IN
DUKE CITY SOON
Representatives Of Leading
Cities and Towns 10 Con-
slider Measures to Relieve
Pressing Financial Needs

CoolllS lilalIOIeNl .lNONNO'
For the purpose of making an eX-
tensive investigation into the prob
lens of finance, health and civc bet
terment and development no% con
fronting cities and towns of New
Mexico, a convention Of the repre-
sentatives of the various mun!e'pali-
ties will be held in Albuquerque as
soon as the Spanish Influenza cpl
demic abates.
The meeting is primarily for the
purpose of setting in motion the
wheels which will induce the mem
bers of the next state legislature to
pass laws which will give municipal
corporations adequate relief against
pressing financial obligations.
Most of the MUNICIPALITIES of the
state, as is the case with Albuquer-
Que, are suffering from growing
pains. The revenue does not keep
pace with the demand for street con-
struction, extension Of sewers, water
mains and lighting facilities, not to
mention the need for additional parks
recreation grounds for juveniles ana
surveys for a definite city plan work
ed out by experts,
Tho city commissioners have been
working quietly for several months.
communicating with the mayors apd
city councilmen of the various com
munities of New Mexico, with a Wow
to asking their cooperation in the
plans under wav for legislation which
will permit the smoother operation of
the finances of municipalities ana
laws now absolutely demanded in
various departments Of city govern
ment as the result of changed condi
tons.
New cc'slation Needed.
New legislation will be required, for
example, to fill in the money gan left
with the coming of prohibition. The
city of Albuquerque loses an annual
revenue of 100000 from saloon Ii
censes as. the result of the ban on
John Barleycorn The city commits
sioners are not bemoan.ng the loss Of
this money by any means. but 1t is an
important factor 10 be reckoned with
in summing UP the financial situation
of the city at the present time. As
an interesting sidelight on the retire
ment of saloons Is the fact that the
police court receipts have dWtndled
from a substantial figure each month
" llIdCltdlly IlOlIilE. IDtlptt lii'
saloons went out of business the po-
lice department was almost self-sus-
tanning. The old days of melting out
justice to plain DRINKS at five dollars
or five DAYS" and to fancy iags at
ten or ten" are gone forever, in
creasing at the same tine the finan-
! cal burden, which in its final analy-
/ sis must be borne by. the taxpayers
| Suggestions for Tax Reforms,
| There are many suggestions for tax
| reforms which will be made at the
| forthcoming meeting of mtnicipal of
| ficialS City Manager A. r.. Heben-
STREET has advanced an important re-
| form in connection with bond issue
! leves The custom has been preva-
/ lent in Albuquerque ever since incor-
! poration, to issue bonds and defer the
! levying of a tax for sinking fund pur-
poses for the Ultimate retirement OF
bonds, until fifteen years after the
/ date of issuance, The public utility
/ whatever it may be. a viaduct, 8
/ sewer system, or water plant. would
be in operation almost simultaneously
with the issuance of the bonds, The
|! taxpayers would begin at once to pay
| the interest on the debt created by
the bond issue, but would pay moth
l ing for many years on the principal
1 The result is that the public utility Is
| practically worn out and ready for this
| scrap heap at the time the taxpayers
begin to pay the principal obligation
And in MANY instances the taxpayers
who enjoyed the utility have sold OF
| disposed of their property at the time
of the leyying Of taxes begins for
| payment of the principal amount Of
1et 4l,4l gFl. nj
/ property. who did not use the utili.
ties or benefit from their construc
ton and maintenance, are thus forcei
to nay for something, through taxa.
tion. which should have been com
n'etely naid for IL a former genera.
ton. City Manager Hebenstret''
idea IS to have the tax levies for sink
ing fund purposes made Immediately
upon the issuance of the bonds. II
other words. that the levy for intores
and levy for sinking fund shall run
concurrently.
System Is All Wrong.
A tax situation which Is generally
conceded to be al! wrong, especially
in view of the conditions as they eXis
in New Mexico. is the deduction by
the county of per cent as the cos
or commission for collecting taxes fol
the city. 1t is nointed out that this
charge IS eXorbitant and out of al
proportion to the service rendered
The city of Albuquerque pays 2la pei
] cent of all the taxes paid in Berna
lilo county and gets back only Al l.;
per cent These figures on percentage
are estimated it IS said but are fair
ly accurate and represent the average
run Of taxes year after year.
Then again the county, it is de
1 clared. does not turn over to the cit,
of Albuquerque any part of thu
money the county collects as penal
ties and interest on delinquent taxes
This system, it is said, must be rad
ically changed by the next legislatu.