Smyrna times., 1928-02-01
DELAWARE MAY BUILD ROADS
TO COST S1,557,OOO YEAR 1928
THIS AMOUNT BONDS CAN BE
ISSUED, ACCORDING TO BUDGET
Outstanding Banded Road Debt Now
S1O,53O, is Submitted
For the Coming Year

The zudget Of the State Highway
Department for this year shows aneX-
cess of estimated revenue of 100000,
which will warrant a bond issue Of
S1,557, 900, for the building Of roads
during the year. These figures are.
given in a report submitted to the
State Highway Commission at a meet
ing held last Wednesday by w. w.
Mack, secretary to the commission.
The statement shows that it Will re-
quire ..621, 1000 to finish uncom-
pleted contracts. There is balance
of federal aid Of $24O,225.34, Of which
amount $17,381.86 il unalotted. The
total receipts last year amounted to
S3,731, ,3O8.7O and expenditures S3,
47O,548.96 The report also shows
that the total Of highway bonds out
standing is $10,53O,O0O with annual
interest and sinking fund charges of
S715,670. There was paid into the
sinking fund for the amortization Of
bonds, $1,4O9,3 800.
The income frome registration of
automobiles, gasoline tax, police fines
and Federal aid from 1917 to 1927, in
elusive, follows: Registration fees,
S5,3O5,025; gasoline tax, since 1928,
S1,758,854.59; police fines from 1923,
sits, 3,366.18; federal aid from 1919 to
1927, $2,599,457.26.
Mr.. Mack states in his report, that
during the past year, State highway
bonds, IN the amount of S750,000,
We're sold, the proceeds of these sales
together with State and federal aid,
and ctrtain refunds and reimburse
ments, amounted to $1,869, ,3O0.66. Ex-
penditure for permanent road con
struction during the year, totalled 81
019,OOO.43, the difference between
these amounts, $149,699.77, was paid
out Of the current revenues and sur
plus. BY deferring the sale of bonds
until late in the year, a substantial
saving in interest was effected.
There was surplus in January 4,
1927, Of S271 ,929.89, available for sec
ondary or permanent road construc-
ton. During the year there was ex-
pended Of these funds, S96,623.40 for
secondary road construction and, as
previously stated $149,699.77 for per-
manent road construction, the present
balance available for secondary roads
being 1924, 4,256.11.
Legislation passed at the last ses-
sion Of the General Assembly requir-
Ell the payment Of the interest on all
outstanding county highway bonds
from the revenues accredited to the
State Highway Department. An ad
ditional cent was added to the gaso-
line tax to reimburse the department.
During the year, expenditures IN
der this act, totaled 1878, 1880. The
receipts from the gasoline tax in
creased $235, ,737.97 over the previous
year. The difference Of S137 ,404.53
was offset in part BY the increase in
the automobile registration fees Of
S7O,345.OO over 1926 leaving net in-
crease in revenue to the department
from these sources Of $67, 1888.
The income from registration fees
and gasoline tax, however, exceeded
the minimum of 81, ,466,000 establish
ed by hte act, SO that the appropria-
ton otherwise available from the gen
eral fund was not drawn upon.
The total Of fixed charges, j. e., in
terest and sinking fund on State high
way bonds and interest on County
highway bonds, paid during 1927
amounted to S1,037, ,812.50.
a total Of 99,482.04 was received
from the Counties during the year on
State aid projects. Approximately
S25O,OOO will be available from this
source in 1928. Without further leg
islation, this will complete county par
ticipation in state highway construc-
tion.
There becomes available in 1928
$685., ,625.OO from The Federal govern
ment, which must be matched with az
equal amount by the State.
Net expenditures for administration
and legal expenses were $2,922.37 les
than for 1926.
AS noted above, fixed charges have
been increased $428, 8,892.50 over 1926
and will continue to increase as nev
issues are sold until some Of the out
standing bonds are retired
Total expenditures for maintenance
were S2,588.52 lower than for 1926
despite a substantial increases in th
mileage under maintenance.
Due to the increasing Of the polio
force during the year and the raising
Of the salaries by legislative enact
ment, the expenditures for the Stat
Highway police increased $7034.3
over 1926. Fines increased $5136.4;
so that the net increase was but ST.
1874. Net expenditures for tn
year were SAT $1,000.
From the above it will be seen tina
the owners and operators of moto
vehicles in the State are paying tn
operating expenses Of the State High
way Department, which Is now sell
supporting.