The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-13

of state bonds for roads and bridges
be carried at the next meeting of the
legislature
such statements are without foun-
dation. Under the provisions of the
Ieoerai AID road law, a certain amount
is apportioned to each state for the
fiscal year, beginning July 1. The
amount thus apportioned must be met
by the state through an apport.onment
or funds to be raised through taxation
pond issues, or otherwise. and this fact
must be certified to the United States
secretary OF agriculture, for his ap-
prevail. After this action of the state
pas been approved the road depart-
ment Of state can submit what Is
known as project statements. cover
ing any particular piece of work in
which 1t is proposed to have the fed
eral aid funds used in part payment of
the cost of construction.
The federal government does not
hand over TO each state. or any state,
lump sum as its share of the fed
eral aid. 1t only pays as the work is
finished each month, or at the end of
the entire job, after the same has been
paid for by the state. And it only pays
after the work has been paid for by
the state. Unless the state has the
money on hand to pay for the work, it
stands poor chance of being refund
ed so per cent of the cost, by the gov
eminent. The amount for each state
is fixed by the government, not by the
state.
"The present apportionment of fed
eral aid funds ends in June 80. 1921.
Not one dollar has been apportioned
by the government for any period be-
yond that date. and not one dollar or
one mill has been apportioned by the
state of Florida to meet the federal
apportionment beyond the tax year of
1920.
The two mill levy for meeting fed
eral aid was authorized by the legis-
lature of 1919 for the years of 1919
and 1920 only. II there is to be any
future federal aid. then some steps
must be taken to provide funds for
the same. It is believed that
will pass a federal aid ap-
act early during the COM
ing session that will allow at least
81, 000, 900 to $2,0o0,000 annually for a
period Of four or five years for Flor
Ida. If this is done, the same must be
met.
"A two mill levy on an assessed val
lation of approximately $500 1000. 900 |
will provide only 100000. The d.f- |
ference could easily be made up with |
the labor of the convicts, but the leg
Stature would have to make an appro- I
priation for feeding, clothing, and /
guarding the convicts. This would take
one and half mills additional. At its
asst annual meeting the state road de-
oartment adopted resolutions that. in
order to carry on the work undertaken
n good road construction, and to pro-
tide an adequate system of permanent
-oads and bridges throughout the
state, funds must be provided by the
state of Florida to meet future ap-
,ortionments of federal aid and to
meet funds now available and that
will be made available from county
ind special road and district bonds.
And the state road department rec
,mmended the adoption of the pro-
posed amendment to the state consti-
ution as means of providing funds
or the completion of the state system
# roads and bridges. The state road
department. further recommended that
he legislature enact suitable laws. to
provide that the interest and sinking
und for the proposed bond issue he
AIKEN care of with the revenue to be
erived from state license, on motor
riven vehicles, and that no further
evy be made for meeting federal aid
pportionment of funds for road con-
truction, from the time this law be-
ONES operative"