The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1918-09-12
DRASTIC ACTION
Council Plans % Double Assessment
60 Raise Needed Funds.

Brought face 70 face with the seri-
Gus condition Of the City financial af-
fairs me city Council has been holding 4
SESSIONS ana going over the tax assess
meut for 1915.
For a number Of years the citv-s
revenues have been less than the cur I
rent expenses. and the city has plmg- 1
ed deeper aud deeper into debt each
year. and when the new council took
office the first ~ the year the deficit
amounted to something like twenty
thousand dollars
10 Is almost impossible 10 get city
warrant cashed as there is no money
in the treasury.
Wien the tax payers are approached
on this subject. the first thing they
SLY is. reduce expenses" ANA Vet
they never hesitate 10 call on the citv
% repair streets. fix cutters and put
/ the sidewalks in condition. and want
/ policeman on every corner and ex-
pect this an 90 be- done by reducing
| expenses
The day of the small country town
/ is thing Of the past Citizens 81 "a
/ town the size Of Hickman are entitled
/ O. AN the convenience Of modern
city and are Justified ia demanding IT,
/ But these things cannot he furnished
unless the revenue is secured 90 pay
for IT,
/ Hickman has every right in the
/ world o. demand that the town Dec
made clean. bright attractive and
healthy. and IFS good citizens are en-
tiiitd 20 every protection which Is
given citizens of other municipalities.
i.ahoring as the city j. under an
accumulated debt. with 80 cash money
o. buy material or pay its labor. 81 Is
impossible 90 get the desired results.
anc whatever j. purchased and paid
for with "a city warrant Il purchased
only az price considerably higher
than could BE- obtained for "a cash con-
siderat ion.
To give the city a thorough business
administration viii not bee possible un
til the financial problem is solved. and
ans revision Of the system Of handling
the cify's business until the money is
available would be- futile
This all leads hack % the funda
7 MENTAL fact that the citys revenue /.
not sufficient 10 meet its needs ant
the only remedy for this II To increass
this revenue through taxation.
II has been the custom hcrctofor,
when giving auyouc'S list 90 the City
Assessor. 10 value ones property il
z proportion 10 the valuation turned 10
]
for no one man should pay more thar
a just share Of the city taxes.
I The trouble is that everyone has pm
! too low valuation on their real es
! tate. and practically no one has mad
any return on personal property.
We think that when the cifizen
realize that the proposed Increase y
| THE assessment viii effect everyone
3 that the majority will willingly sui
! nit 20 the increase.
One thing Is certain. If the peopl
81 Hickmane expect street lights. fir
4 protection. city water. police proiec
4 ticn. and streets ina good repair. th
bin for these things VIII have 10 b.
4 paid. and any man. ia our opinion. wh
\ objects 10 these things is NOT "a puhli
Z spirited citizen. and the fewer Ee hav
Il these the better of viii be- the com
Inuuify.
The present mayor and council wer
prevailed upon 90 serve after mucl
Z Tcrsun sion. and very much againS
s their personal inclination. Their 20
|. sition Is not a pleasant one. but In
! steps they propose 20 take are IN ac
4 cordnuce with their duty as they So