Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-11-01
Excess Levy on
City Ballot Is
Dire Necessary

]. Baumgartner, O. l.. Scott and
Edward Schunke, composing the
\ ways and means committee of the
Saiem city council. have prepared a
4 statement showing facts and fig.
Nres relative to the measure to be
I voted on next Tuesday granting the
" city council authority to levy a tax
"a 0f $26 900 over the per cent limi-
n 4ation Of the state constitution.
The statement follows
several months before the be.
G1nning of new year the ways and
K means committee of the city coun-
" ell meets to consider the cxependi-
lures OF the coming year and sub
k matt . budget to the city council for
- consideration. The 1919 coun-
\ cil adopted budget which they
\ Gfncerely believed would take care
( Of the city's expenses for the year
1890. At that time they were Of
Che opinion that the peak of high
prices had been reached, but eurly
an the year it became eviden. that
they were mistaken, the various de-
( pnrtments Of the city coming to the
city council with demands for in
rreases of salaries and wages ana
kaking conditions into considsra-
tiOn, increases were granted. These
kncreases were allowed to the police
department. fire department and
xrle men employed in the street de-
w,artment, and the materials In the
various departments cost ar In ex-
& CESS OF our estimates, and to cover
which taxes had been levied. The
U14 4oI E,t t.ah a . r.,..
1920 were $4,000. but the actual
expenditures will be approximately
4 4r90,0o0, To cover this shortage
ne hytiadonhandct anf d m hETT
fiSe city had on hand in its general
fund on the first of January, 1920,
the sum Of $4,000. to which was
added 5000 received from the sale
Of an old paving plant the city was
fortunate IN selling, and an increase
over the estimated receipts IN the
offices of city treasurer and city re,
Corder collected for fines, licenses.
~tc.
I'm arriving at the amount sub
4ect to an increase of per cent
over last years levy. we must par.
1ieularly note that this increase is
allowed only over the. levy ane not
over the actual expenditure of the
1Urmer year. and this amount is
again subject to certain exemption.
ESr Instance. from the estimate for
l9zo Of SlTo,00o, $4,000 must be
zleducted which was paid for the |
r0firinE OF bonds and bond interest |
On general obligations OF ene city, |
Also the amount of estimated in
come Of the treasurer's and record
&r's offices must be deducted so
that we find the amount subiect to
an increase OF per cent is approx
tmAtely tS5.e0o. 1t is an interest
1lsx fact to note that while the coun
ell Is asking for an increase of
x15, 900 to cover it's increased de-
rnands on It's general and street and
hfNhways funds, thet otal amount
r0vering al It's expenditures, includ
|nx the payments of bonds and
hand Interest is only $1,000 more
Than the 1920 estimate. and the
taxpayers are asked TO contribute
pnly this $1,000 more towards the
of the city than they
we're askedto pey in 1920, This is
Explained by the fact that the city
3 constantly cutting down It's bond.
a indebtedness. and in conse-
|uence. its interest charges. In
$50 the city has retired $4,000
& us outstanding bonds In 1921.
81, coo viii become due and must \
= paid. These are serial bonds
'hich, as the name implies. -re
onds on which n certain percent
&c OF the principal must BE paid I
leh year. l$
TO get a detailed explanation