The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-30
City Commissioners Must Raise
Taxes This Year.
Increase of 3 Mills VIII Not
Care for the Budget.
WORKED UNTIL "a. M. TODAY
Commissioners in Futile At
tempt to Meet Costs.
Requirements Are Far in Ex.
cess of Valuation Returns.

Topeka will have to economize dur
ing the next year.
This was, made evident when the
city commissioners, after working un-
til 2 o'clock this morning. were still
unable to get their 1921 budgets down
to a figure that can be covered by the
revenue from the siX-milI tax levy
allowed by statute. The increases in
the cost of labor and material in all
departments of the city government
have far outstripped the increase in
the valuation of city property.
Last year the city tax levy amounted
to 81 mills. This year, even with the
increase in valuation, it is evident that
the full six mills will not be sufficient
to keep up all departments in the reg
ular way and allow a reasonable
amount for improvements. The as
sessed valuation of city property last
year was S62.S64,173. This year it is
S6S.537,947. This will yield only $34.-
1O264 more in taxes than the old val
uation.
Water Needs $5t, 900.
The requirements of the water and
light department for 1921 is $4,000
greater than this departments share
of the six-mill levy. The park de
partment is said to be asking sS5,000
more than last year. The street de-
partment also will need more money
to carry it thru the coming year, as
there are some improvements that will
have to be made and many more that
are urgently needed. Many city
streets are in sad need of repairs and
much new paving is needed.
While the water and light depart
ment is in need of s51 900 more than
the siX-mill levy will yield it, still
no provision has been made for the 80
per cent increase for firemen at the
two plants. or for the water for which
the city is to pay cost price to the de-
partment The question as to whether
the city shall pay the department cost
price for water it uses, or use it free
of charge and let water customers pay
it in higher rates may be a bone of
contention, Judging from present in
dications.
Legislature to Blame.
The commissioners today were
somewhat reticent pending further
work on the budgets. Increases in
the salaries of firemen and policemen
are known to be desired. The last
legislature is coming in for plenty of
censure because it did not foresee the
position the city would be in within
two years and provide that the tax
levy might be raised above the figure
provided when the cost of labor and
materials were more than 100 per
cent lower.
Rigid as the economy in city ex-
penditures has been during the last
year, it is evident that a still further
reduction in improvements, and even
in necessities. must come during 1921.
The budget system does not allow for
emergencies such as this brought on
by the tremendous increase in living
costs during the war. 1t is conceded
that the water and light departments
and the fire and police departme ents
must be kept up at all costs. as it is
upon these that the city leans heaviest.
But the importance of the health and
street departments cannot be over
: looked in their relation not only to the
( beauty of the city, but the health and
safety of its inhabitants.
More meetings of the commission
ers are scheduled for the next few
days, during which efforts will be
made to get together on the budgets
In the meantime everything with
which Topeka can do without is be-
| ing eliminated in order to bring the
requirements nearer the figures avail
able.