The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-07-20
In Communication 10 Excise Board
OF County Executive Points Out
Needs and Asks Election On
Needed Levy.
DECLARES SIX MILL
LEVY rs NOT ENOUGH
Shows Increase In Expenses and Re.
fers to Reported Decrease In
Valuation OF City Property;
Reviews Situation.

Mayor S. c. Durbin, in written
statement to be presented, together
with the city's estimate for the fiscal
year beginning July /, 1920. and end
ing June 30 1921, to the Grady coun-
ty excise board, stressed the necessi-
ty OF the board calling an election to
submit to the voters of Chickasha
the question OF authorizing an in
creased levy.
The estimate to be presented to
the excise board will call for a levy
of approximately 10 mills. The levy
ing of an advalorem tax OF more
than six mills in any city of the first
class must be authorized in a special
election, Mayor Durbn says. The
executives statement said:
you, are made up in general of the
estimates submitted by the heads OF
the various departments of the city,
reduced by approximately thirteen
per cent This reduction was made
cause the demands of the department
heads were exorbitant or unreason-
able, but in order to keep the tax
levy as low as possible and within
the constitutional limit.
IF it is true, however, as report
ed, that the assessed valuation Of
city property is about one and a
quarter million less than last year,
then the revenue which the city Is
asking is considerably more than
will be obtained from a six mill levy.
If this is the case, your board has
authority either to cut our estimates
still further, or to call special elec.
tion in which the question of an in
creased levy will be submitted tG
the voters of the city
Much as we may regret to ask
the citizens to provide more revenue
with which to carry on the business
OF the city, ! feel that we cannot do
otherwise without shirklng our duty
III the appropriation that Is made
shall be much less than the esti-
mate, practically every department
OF the city will be unable to give
even reasonable service. For illus
tration, 1t Is believed that at least
one bridge on Line creek must be
closed as unsafe for use. 1t is prob
able that improvements at the water
works already begun must be discon-
tinued, though sanitary engineers
and the State Board of Health insist
that those are necessary. It is clear
that there will be no cemetery lots
for sale unless additional land is pro
vided. / will not undertake to pre-
dict what might happen within the
jurisdiction of the police and fire de-
partments.
you will note that the estimat
submitted does not call for increases
in compensation to election officers or
heads of the departments. No one
who has helped prepare these esti-
mates will receive any personal bene-
fit if an increase in revenue is voted.
GAS you may recall, the maximum
rate for city purposes named in the
constitution is ten mills. In 1910
this was reduced by statute to siy
mills. In 1913, the rate was still fur
ther reduced to six mills, as it is to-
day.
"Since that time the cost of labor
and material has enormously increas-
ed and, though people expect and
state and federal authorities demand
more and better service, the revenues
provided are the same and will be
even less tn coming year.
In my opinion, the situation is so
serious as to justify you in submit
ting to the voters of the city the
question of authorizing an increased
levy"