The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-07-22
SOAK 1T ON THE TAX ROLL.

ln6F6 ISL SOluS W DS universal COulHCIud-
ton of the decision of the city council to soak
the cost Of the Main street bridge on the tax
roll in the way of mill tax. People who are
called upon to bear heavy tax burdens are go
ing to find this latest addition to the mill tax
something along the line of the last straw
which may break the camel's back. The coun-
Gil seemed to be of the opinion that mere
matter of four mills tax was simply mere
"bag of shells" for the tax payers to pay, but
the continued addition Of mere bags" has
brought the mill levy Of Kenosha up to the
highest in the state and the probability is that
Kenosha will outdistance everyone else in the
amount Of taxes levied for next year. 1t may
humble the pride of the people Of the city to
have their bonds sold at less than par. The
city of Cleveland New York, Chicago and 9TH
err cities which have sought to sell five per cent
bonds recently have gone through the same ex-
perience of "hunbled pride"
The people voted to go ahead with the Main
street Improvement, not with the understand
ing that the cost of it would be placed on the
tax roll to be paid in one year, but with the
idea that the cost of the bridge and it's trim
mings would be extended over term of years
It is admitted that the council has a perfect
right to levy the tax rather than issue the
bonds but the advisability of such action may
be called into question. Many of the people
who are to pay this taX-and it means half
million dollars in tOtal-muSt take the money
to pay the tax directly from the operation of
their business. Money is worth to the people
as much and more than it is worth to the city
and while it may seem hard for the city to pay
57Go interest for money to build bridge, it
can be said that at this rate the city is getting
the money at lower rate of interest than
could be secured by any of it's people or any of
it's manufacturing concerns. At the most con-
sentative estimate money is worth eight per
cent at the present time and the city is greatly
favored if it can secure it at a reduction of
$3.50. The money to pay for this bridge is 60
ing to be taken out Of the pockets Of the people.
Its earning value is just as great to the people
and to the great manufacturing concerns as
it is to any set of banks and bankers. If the
city can secure this money by collective bar
gaining at 57qo and the people who pay the
tax must pay from seven to eight per cent, GER
tainly the city should make an effort to follow
The system of collective bargaining
1t is true that it will cost the city some
money to borrow half million dollars The
use of it for term of twenty years is worth
some money. Most anyone in business is will
ing to admit that it costs money to borrow
money and yet ninety per cent of the business
Of the world is done on credit.
1t is argued that Kenosha people will not
have to pay the soldier bonus again next year.
This is true but the state is going to demand
very largely increased state tax in order to
meet expenses of the state institutions and this
must be added to the mill tax when the coun-
Ill makes the levy Bonds come back for pay
nent but money kept in the regular channels
If business rather than taken out of circula-
ion by demands for enlarged tax leves aids
materially in earning money by which bonds
IAN be paid.
Kenosha is not nearly to the limit of her
bonding rights under the law and improve
nents which are made largely for the future
Nay properly be paid for by bond issues. The
Main street bridge is counted on to last the
lily for term Of at least thirty years. It is
ny fair that the next generation pay some
hing toward the cost of the improvement. The
,nly way that the cost may be spread over the
,erm of years is by bond issue. This is the
method the people voted for and it is only fair
% believe that they meant what they said.
The fact that the city bonds can not be sold
exactly at par does not in any way change the
status of the question. The people will prop
erly expect the city to meet changed condi-
ions Of the money market just the same as the
ssE of the men who are forced to borrow
money for legitimate business purposes.
1t is possible that in few months the city
an find better bond market There is still
money in the general fund and this money
.ould be used to meet the demands of contrac-
ors until it is exhausted and at that time the
council might again seek to follow the order of