The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-12-21
CITY WILL ASK
Law To ISSUE
Street BONDS
Present Method of Raising
ThOrOughfare Funds Is
Called Inadequate.
POCKET VETOED IN 1927
Conference on Planning to
Sponsor Bill Before
Legislature.
POCKET VETOED IN 1927

Another effort to obtain a law
permitting cities to issue bonds for
city thoroughfare plan improve
ments will be sought in the coming
legislature.
Such law was passed by the 1927
legislature, but the law was pocket
vetoed by Governor Jackson. The
Indiana conference on city plan
ming likely will sponsor the bill, it
is said.
The indianapolis city plan COM
mission was interested vitality in the
legislation, as the present method of
raising funds is inadequate and has
slowed the city in carrying forward
the thoroughfare plan.
Issuance Of bonds up to per
cent of the city's assessed valuation
would allow Indianapolis about
100000 in bonds for thoroughfare
work, according to Henry Steeg, city
plan secretary.
S Cents Is Levy Now
The present law permits a tax levy
of cents for thoroughfare improve
ments. The city has been handi-
capped for several years because
former city administrations and city
councils have failed to permit the
maximum levy for street widening
and strengthening projects.
John L. Benedict, attorney and
state representative, is contemplate
ing some amendments to the law,
STIMULATING the method Of assess
ments for widening projects.
Benedict proposes a bill provid-
ing that the city bear the cost Of
moving or wrecking buildings or
sidewalks for street widening,
Strengthening or improvement 9TH
erwise.
Such costs now are assessed
against a benefited district desig-
mated by the board of works in
each instance. Benedict contends
that the entire city is benefited by
such improvements and should
share in the cost.
The bill gives city councils power
to levy a special tax to raise a street
widening fund. Balances in this
fund would not revert to the gen.
eral fund at the end of the year
but accumulate for future improve
ments.
City Engineer A. H. Moore ex-
pressed dissatisfaction with the law
which requires a uniform base OF
six inches of concrete for all type of
street paving.
Engineer Needs Authority
"This provision is Objectionable
because a city engineer should be
given more freedom in drafting his
own specifications. If a black OF
macadam base should be used, the
engineer should have authority to
specify it.
cit is not practical from an engi-
neering standpoint to specify the
same base for a street which is to
remain residential as it is for a
downtown thoroughfare which is
heavily travelled" Moore said.
Change in the method of sewer
assessment would be welcomed by
city officials, as the present plan
has drawn considerable criticism.
Moore expressed dissatisfaction
with the law providing that the city
assume suspended assessments
against property which is in the
territory of main sewer, but not
served by local sewer facilities.
Under the present law, the city
assumes the assessment, which is
paid later when the property is
served with sewer connections.
100000 on One Project
''This will amount to about $780,
900 on the Pleasant Run interceptor
project alone. 1t doubtless will run
about 100000 in all this year. We
hope to relieve the condition next
year by anneXing certain territory,
Moore said.
1.-THE present method of assess
ment, which provides that costs
shall be levied against each individ-
ual later, is unfair, because certain
property owners pay double the
amount assessed against their
neighbors. Both receive the same
benefit"
Moore declared the city needs the
maximum 5 cent levy for both the
thoroughfare plan and street resur-
facing for the next five years Ito
put the city in proper shape"