The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-12-09
CITY COUNCIL AGREES ON
THIRTY-FIVE MILL LEVY
City Council Levies Thirty-fve Mill Tax for a
Total of 81 ,914, 26637 at the Meeting
in Council Chamber Monday.
BREAKWATER ASSESSMENTS ON ROLL
Council Rescinds Action of Former Meeting and Puts
the Breakwater Assessments Back on the
Tax Rolls Against Property Owners

6Qdt was maui HOHQdy GNGAlllS at LlC
meeting of the city council when the
aldermen with but one dissenting vote
accepted the report, Of the committee
on finance. There had been rumors
that a forty mill levy would be abso
lutely necessary, but the report of the
committee showed that by careful
pruning and close economy the levy
could be kept at thirty-fve mills.
This levy will not provide funds for
the erection of the Main street bridge
or the Mckinley school and these are
to be provided for by bond issues. 1t
was also pointed out that this levy
was absolutely necessary in order to
get enough money to meet the deficit
which the city now faces and to
establish funds to meet the actual
running expenses of the city.
Had Pruned to the Limit.
Chairman Pabst of the finance com
mittee in presenting the report ex-
planned that every item of the budget
had been pruned to the limit. He
asked that the council rescind it's ac-
ton granting $4,000 for recreational
purposes and a motion was carried
cutting this item to $4,000 which AL
derman Pabst declared would put it
on the same basis as other items of
the budget.
1t was explained that if the city had
been able to dispose Of it's Bonds as
planned the levy might have been kept
within the thirty mill limit, but after
conferences with the bankers, it had
been found impossible to do this and
since the banks had refused to finance
any big deficit for another year, the
only course left was thirty five
mill tax.
Cox Wanted Time Extension.
Alderman Cox of the second ward,
while he admitted the expediency of
a thirty-tive mill tax levy, pleaded for
ar agreement whereby an extension Of
time would be provided for the pay
ment of the taxes. ''It will be hard
for men who have bought homes on
the installment plan to meet this
levy" he declared. "Some of them
cannot make the grade and I do not
believe any man on the council wants
to see single one to lose his home.
It's up to the council to provide a
way to extend the time to July or let
the taxes stand at thirty mills"
Mayor Joachim in answer to this
declared that every chance of extern
sion possible would be given to the
workingmen. He said that the thirty
five mill levy did not mean that the
council planned to spend money freely
but that it would barely provide
enough money to get through the year.
Tully for Thirty Mills.
Alderman Tully proved the biggest
opponent to the thirty-ive mill levy.
eve could get by with a thirty mill
tax if we do away with all improve
ments," he said. care you planning
on building any new schools with this
money! l believe that the city could
get along on thirty mill tax if we
economic and I'm going to vote that
way"
ITO be truthful and above board"
responded Alderman Donahue, mem
Der of the finance committee, ga forty
mill tax would not be sufficient to pro-
vide funds for what we really need.
There will be no additional lights or
extended improvements on thirty
five mill levy"
Chairman Pabst again explained that
after a thorough survey of the situa
ton the finance committee was con-
WINGED that the city "could not squeeze
through on less than thirty-fve mill
tax levy The vote was then taken on
the levy and was passed with only
one dissenting vote, that of Alderman
Tully.
The report of the finance commit
tee, showing the situation that made
a thirty-ive mill levy, necessary, is
as follows;
To the Honorable Mayor and Com
mon Council:
Gentlemen;
Your Committee on Finance,s would
respectfully recommend that tax of
Thirty-fve (35) Mills, or the sum of
$1,914,266.37 be levied upon the assess
able property of the City of Kenosha
for purposes as follows:
State, County, county
School, Soldiers Relief,
49, -,