Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-02-13
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STATE LEAGUE OF
MUNICH AL|T|ES
Legislators Want to Know
What Has Become of Or
ganjzatiOn Former at Meet
ing in Duke City in Dec.
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Santa Fe, Feb. 12.-What has be-
come of the League of municipalities
which was organized at Albuquerque
the middle of December? This ques-
ton has been asked around the legis-
lative halls and in the capitol corri-
doris, but echo merely answers:
"Nhat?" 1t was expected that there
would be a committee here to look
after the passage of necessary bills,
or that bills seekins to obtain the ne
cessary financial relief for cities,
towns and villages would be dumped
down upon the house. But so far
the league has not been heard from.
This situation induced Judge Barnes
today to issue the following statement
regarding the situation:
The League of municipalities or
ganized with much applause at Albu-
querque some weeks ago has so far
failed to appear, either by committee
or by measures before the present
legislature, and those members of the
legislature who feel the proper inter
est in municipal relief have been
forced to introduce such bills as seem
in their judgment to meet the situa-
ton.
Briefly stated, the following bills
have been introduced: The limitation
on taxation in cities, towns and Will
ages, as found in section -, chapter
54, of the session laws of 1915 has
been Taised from three to five mills,
and the restriction imposed by chap
ter "a, of the same session laws, has
been removed for the seventh and
eighth fiscal years. This will give
governing bodies of cities, towns and
villages full power to levy the maxi
mum of five mills for the current and
following years.
The per cent collection charge
applied on all municipal taxes anC
appropriated to the salary fund in the
various counties will be repealed from
and after the current year and {
straight levy will be made by the
counties for salary purposes. This will
relieve the municipal situation consid'
erably in first class counties. In adj
diton to this a bill has been intro
duced giving to cities, towns and vii
lagos 40 per cent of the general road
levies, to be applied by such cities
towns and villages as street paving
and Improvement funds, this 40 pei
cent to be figured on the taxable
property within the limits of the mu-
ncipaIity. This 40 per cent, however
does not apply to any road taxes levied
to meet certificates of Indebtedness
for bonds already issued, nor does il
repeal a part of sChapter 3S, of the
laws of 1917 the law by which road
leVies are taxed to meet the assent OIL
the state to the provisions of the acI
of congress approved July II, 19lG
entitled: An act to provide that tht
United States shall aid states in tbs
construction of rural post roads, and
other PURPOSES, ,.,... 80, ..
This legislation is intended to give
immediate and appreciate relief
Should it not meet the needs of thc
cities towns and villages of the state
some other relief should be suggested
80 far as this relief applies to the
city of Albuquerque, it Will increase
the limits of the city levy by sc 2-3
per cent. will save to the city from
1920 forward from $4,000 to $4,000
that has been converted into the
salary fund of the county through the
operation JG the per cent deduction
law, which has been diverted to the
road construction and current expense
funds by the county commissioners
because of the excess created in the
salary funl. This will produce a large
amount for street paving and i'm
provements, the exact sum of which
car rot be stated without an exami-
nation of the tax rolls CT the county"
OF course the taxpayers will appre-
ciete tie fact that under this law the
county commit Sioners will not be per-
mitted to levy any greater tax than
has heretofore been levied upon the
people Of tic city.