Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-21
COUNCIL ASKS
SPECIAL LEVY
TO WIPE OUT
CITY'S DEBTS
Charter Amendment to Permit Add.
tlOnaI Tax of Half of One Per
Cent Proposed

A plan for paying off the accUmu-
lated floating debt of the city. amount
ing to about 100000, has been reach
ed by the city administration, and the
plan, drawn by Mayor Sheppard and
the finance committee of the city coun
Gil, was made public when it was
adopted by the council at its regular
meeting last night
In brief, the plan is to obtain an
amendment to the city charter at the
coming session of the Georgia legis-
lature to permit the city to levy a
special ad valorem tax of one-half of
one per cent. annually for a period of
five years only, which shall be set
aside in a special fund and used only
for the payment of the outstanding
Indebtedness of the city. At the
present assessed valuation in the city
of $4,5OO,O0O, the special tax would
raise in five years $112,500, which, it
is calculated, would be sufficient to
cancel the entire floating debt of the
city and interest.
A special act of the legislature is
required, because the city charter
sets levy limit of 1-2 per cent,
which is the present tax rate.
The plan came before the council
in the form of resolution, intro
duced by Alderman Mashburn for the
france committee, in the absence of
the chairman, j. E. Poole, and was
adopted after a brief statement by
Mayor Sheppard.
In making his statement concern
ing the plan, which he originated,
Mayor Sheppard called Mayor-Pro-
tenn Mashburn to the chair while he
took the floor
"As you all know, the outstand
ing floating Indebtedness of the city
is in the neighborhood of 100000"
said Mr.. Sheppard.
LAS we are now operating, the
revenue of the city is just about
city, leaving nothing whatever with
which to pay these accumulated debts.
"Of course these debts must be
paid. They are legal obligations of
the city, and they will have to be
taken care of. l have cudgeled my
brain to find way to pay them.
Among other things, l thought of
raising the water rates, but that
would put burden on a class, and
was abandoned.
''If we raise the assessments on
property we are up against an almost
interminable task, with unending
chickering's, and the probability of do
ing individuals injustices.
at is my opinion that the best way
to make the burden equitable and
even is to raise the ad valorem tax
rate sufficiently to meet the require
ments.
THE property values as assessed in
the city now are $4,500,000 One-half
of one per cent on this would give us
S22,50O per year or $122,500 in five
years, which, we believe, will be suf
ficient to pay off the principal and
interest of these accumulated city
debts.
THE plan provides that the special
tax shall cover only a period of five
years, and shall automatically cease
at the expiration of that time. This
is a good provision, because the pub
lie is jealous Of the taxing power
and it will be a safeguard which will
guarantee to the public that the tax
will not be effective after that time
"The plan also embodies the pro-
vision that all funds so raised shall
be kept separate and distinct from
all other city funds and applies only
to outstanding debts; in other words,
the citizens will know that the special
levy is made and used for one specific
purpose alone.
"There is a further saving clause
which provides that if there is any
money left from the levy, after the
payment of the outstanding debt, it
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