Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-29
WOULD BOOST TAX
Continues from Pare on.,

from Federal aid would provide the
sum OF $2,O0O,000, which is about the
same sum as has been expended for
highway construction each year.
Highway Budget Estimate
TIE Highway Commission is skiing
for the following amounts for the fis.
ca year 1926: Highway Loan Fund.
SZ'ooo,Ooo: bridge loan fund. $500, 600;
improvement of state roads, $1,000.
OOO; third class highway fund, S514
90; special resolves. SfCO. 900: main
tenance and administra ton. $1,000
Ooo; interest on bonds, $43O,o2O: re-
serve to retire state bonds, $4,000
FOR the fiscal year 1927 the amount
sought Tor maintenance and admins
tTatlon is increased $500, 900. while
the other items remain about the
same as for 1926
The Commission estimates the dc.
Iartments income for the fiscal wear
1875 as follows: Highway Loan
Fund (F'ederal Add 100000; bridge
loan 1und, Counties. cities and towns
appropria tom 100000: improve
inent OF state roads (cities and towns
appropriatiOn) $4,000; third class
highway fund Zone half of gasoline
tax at one cent per gallon) S27O.OOO:
special resolves (cities and towns an
propriation) $4,000; reserve to re-
tire bonds (auto fees) $4,000: main
tenance (cities and towns appropri-
atom $235.000; maintenance Zone
haII or gasoline tax at one cent per
gallonl S270,500; auto fees $3.50. 0S0.
Explanation of Estimates
Accompanying the record of esti-
mates filed with the budget commit
tee is tie following explanation of
the figures:
state Highway Construction-The
cstimate of s2,0OO,000, is a little less
than the expenditure for state high
way constructions during each of the
iast two fiscal periods and it is be-
lieved that this amount is reasonable
Tor carrying on this activity.
Bridge Loan Fund-The Commiss-
ION have carried about 60 petitions all
through the present calendar wear
upon which no hearings have been
held on account of the lack of funds
to apply to the construction of anv of
the bridges which might be rebuilt
under these petitions. Several petit
tons have already been heard and
votes have been taken to build bride-
es depending only upon the ability of
Inc state Highway Commission to
secure funds for the payment of the
InoSp
structures. 1t is believed that the
amount asked for for each of the
two periods. namely $3.50. is a con-
sentative amount in view of the prob.
able increase in the number of petit
tons Tor bridge assistance during the
next two years.
Improvement of State Roads-This
is the appropriation for state aid
construction work. In 1929 the towns
applied for more than $4,000 of
state aid. In 1924. although it was
we'll indicated that the state funds
had not been sufficient during the
applications of the towns for in
creased state-aid the towns applied
for state aid to an amount in excess
of S72S.000
The Legislature at it's last session
attempted to provide an additional
100000 of State-aid from the con-
tingent fund. but without success.
This Commission is of the opinion
that work done by the State and
towns on cooperative basis under
this appropriation makes for reason
able development of the improvtd
highway system of the State. and that
the towns should be ENCOURAGED in the
cooperative work
Third Glass Highway Fund-The
Commission is of the opinion that the
Third Class highway fund as now con-
stituted is sufficient to meet the re-
duirements of this class of road i'm
provement, in consideration of traffic
upon these highways in comparison
with the traffic carried by State and
State-aid highways
Special Resolves-The amount car
ried for special resolves is the amount
provided by the Legislature at it's last
session.
Maintenance and Administration
The amounts required for this appro-
priatior is believed by the Commission
to be extremely conservative due to
the fact that there are many miles
of State highways built six, eight or
ten years ago which are practically
worn out and should be reconstructed
at the earliest possible moment in
order to save the investment the State
has already made in these roads.
Funds for this purpose will undoubt-
eddy have to be found from current
revenues and carried in the mainte.
nance account under the head of Re
construction.
The amounts asked for in these esti-
mates contemplate certain amount of
reconstruction work.
1sw~ Sources Of Revenue
The Commission suggests that con-
sideration might be given to increas-
ing the gasoline tax from one cent to