Omaha daily bee., 1920-11-23
No New Tax Laws
Planned W hich
Will Affect Omaha
Present General Fund Maxi
mum Has Not Been Reached
Revolving Fund for I'M
provements Proposed.

No legislation is contemplated this
winter, seriously affecting taxation in
Douglas county or Omaha, accord
ing to statements made by public Of
ticials.
w. 6. Ure. city commissioner IN
charge OF the department of accounts
end finance, explains that the present
general fund maximum of IS mills
has not been reached. The last gem
eraI city levy, which will be applied
next year. calls for levy OF sc
mills. There is limitation of 4
mills for bond redemption, which
will be applied to the limit next
year. Mr.. Ure believes that this
limit should be removed and that the
city should be permitted to set aside
each year all amount for bond re-
demption which will cqualize these
obligations. For instance, there is
at this time 100000 in the city bond
redemption fund.
City Bonds Due.
A 4-mill levy for 1921 will add
100000 or possibly more There
will be S253,000 city bonds due next
year, comparatively smaller amounts
during 1922 and 1928 and in 1924 the
city will ee required to meet $638,000
of bond obligations. In 1925 there
will be S3S0,000 due and in 1926 the
alrount will be $725,000.
There is no limitation now i'm
posed on the bond interest fund
which relieves the necessity of ask
ing for legislation on that subject.
To Issue Warrants.
One of the most important fea-
lures of proposed legislation, af-
fecting the taxpayers of Omaha, will
be the proposition of establishing a
revolving fund for the public i'm
provement department. R. N, Towl,
city commissioner in charge of pub
lie improvements. will urge the pas
sage of a city charter provision, att
thorizing the city council to sell
$500,000 20-year city bonds, the
money to be used for the promotion
of public improvements.
The custom has been to issue war
rants bearing 7 per cent interest to
contractors as payment for their
work. These warrants are out
standing until the city sells district
bonds, running serial
ly from one to nine years, because
property owners are allowed 10
years in which to pay their special
taxes.
Disclosed Its Weakness.
This method has disclosed its
weakness, according to Commis-
sioner Towl. Shors-time improve
ment bonds are not finding ready
market and contractors need their
money. Under the revolving fund
plan the contractors would be paid
as the work progressed and they
would be paid in cash out OF a fund
which would be replendished as the
special improvement taxes were re.
ceived. Commissioner Ure and
Towl believe this plan would tend to-
reduce the cost of improvements
md would during a period of years
,esult in the saving of much money
o the city.
Sewer Bond increase.
1t will be proposed that the pres
ent sewer bond limitation of $500
300 a year be increased to $eoo,oo0
A year for not less than four years,
m order that an extensive sewer
program may be accomplished. It
S also recommended by the public
department that $780,
100 year intersection bond limita-
ion be removed and that no limita-
ion be placed on this fund. This
the money which the city
At large pays for paving intersee-
ions.
Keeping 1t Quiet.
Another proposed charter reyie ..
would oroyide for S50000 var