The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-02
TAxES\TO GO UP?

STATED the city being redistricted for
voting purposes, there has been some
expense connected with this and ex-
penses of holding elections will be in
creased This increase will have to be
taken care of In his budget. He has
not figured just what amount this will
reach. At present he contemplates nc
raises in salaries in any of his depart
ments and does not expect that there
will be much increase in any of the
factors that go to make up his budget
with the exception of supplies. Rising
costs will necessitate some slight adj
dition to the budget to take care OF
this.
WATSON was asked If a one mill in
crease to the levy for the general fund
would suffice. He did not know, he
said. Demands might fall below what
could be raised on a one mill levy and
on the other hand might exceed them
and necessitate a one and one-half
mill or two mill additional levy. On
the present valuation of $4,000. 900.
which has not been changed, unless
possibly to decrease a little, says Was
son, an additional one mill levy to the
general fund would raise $4,000. On
an average this amount would furnish
each department with $12.600. There
are five departments. However. it is
possible that some of the departments
will require less than this increase
while others may require even more.
will Be impossible to ascertain just
what each commissioner will request.
Money Needed for Parks.
The park department comes in I'M
der a special fund. Last year on q
levying basis of .O475 OF a mill $4,000
was raised.
This is entirely inadequate to meet
demands, Commissioner McGiffert
says, and is the reason SO, many COM
nj int ha n
ment in the parks. children's play
grounds, weeds, the various swimming
pools and other features that come
under his. supervision It has been
impossible to obtain new things or do
much to improve already existing con-
ditdons on account of the lack of
money with which to- operate. The
sum of $40. 900 does not begin to fur
-nish enough money to carry on the
work of the park system. public
health system, and other features in
an adequate manner.
According to the recent law COM
missionerA are allowed to levy any
amount up to one mill for parks. Last
year on OATS of a mill the department
got; about $4,000. This is too small
by half McGiffert will ask the entire
one mill limit. On the one mill basis
1T would mean e63, 900 for his depart
ment.- With this amount of money
d
really commence to do the things that
all Topeka has been clamoring for.
Stanfield Wants Little.
Commissioner Stanfield will not ask
for much of an increase except in SAL
| aries. He is not decided on this.
Stanfield will attempt to increase his
fund in several ways. He says that in
most cities of this. size the average
| fire hydrant rental is from $50 to
SIS per year. At one time there was
a rate here of $50. His department
now receives only $17.2s for hydra nj
rentals. Besides he does not get any
thing for water used in sprinkling and
washing streets or for flushing sewers.
/ Stanfield will ask an increase in n.y.
drant rentals to $55. He will also ask
$18 per year for each sewer flush
tank. He intends to try to maintain
| the present water rates saying that
he can do so if the budget is granted
and that It will permit him to put
money in the sinking fund, pay off the
bonded indebtedness of $19S.931, and
make extensions and improvements
| No money went to the sinking fund
| last year. This year he has paid
| $1367.37 into the fund and $500 OF
bonds not paid last year. This is what
has held him up on improvements.
Commissioner Hancock does not
4 contemplate any very great change in
his budget. He expects to get enough
to meet rising costs both in material
and in labor He also intends to have
sufficient help in his department Of
| fees. At present his is the only large
city department without a stenogra-
| pher. He expects soon to get the
| help that is needed to carry on his
work. He does not know just what
he will ask, but says that it will be
very much under the $4,000 that
could be raised on a one mill increase
of the levy
The departments of Mayor Corwine
and Commissioner McGiffert will car
/ ry the largest increases. 1t is certain
that McGiffert win ask some large
| increase. Il Is also impossible to see
how the mayor may avoid asking a
large increase. altho he has not said
! that he intends to do so.