The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-05
COUNTY ROAD
SYSTEM IS HIT
AT HEARING
Marion Not Getting Moneys
Worth, State Board
Members Assert.
CLASH ON SCHOOL LEVY
Increase in Gravel Fund Is
Fought by Taxpayers
Association.

Marion County, with its thirty
three assistant road superintendent,
is not getting its moneys worth of
maintenance when compared with
other Indiana counties where the
patrol system prevails. This was
the opinion expressed by State tax
board members at the hearing on
remonStrance on the proposed .325-
cent 1929 tax levy
Hearing on both the county levy
and the proposed s1.O3 Indianapolis
school city levy was held today in
the House of Representatives.
The proposed county levy is made
up of las cents for the general
fund, lbs cents for the sinking
fund, .03 for the gravel and main
tenance fund and OPS for the Sun
nyside Sanitorium. This is a .OO5
increase in the sinking and gravel
funds.
Only the gravel fund increase
was attacked by Attorney Willis E.
Nusbaum and Secretary Harry B.
Meisse of the Indiana Taxpayers
Association, the organization filing
the remonStrances.
Increase Is Attacked
They contend that with the in
crease of valuation to $780,000, 900,
the 10 per cent gas tax increase and
the increase in concrete roads,
which require little maintenance,
the .O05 gravel fund increase is I'M
necessary.
President Charles E. Sutton of
the county commissioners and
Auditor Harry Dunn defended tho
l-cent rate increase. Sutton listed
the roads under county care and
declared that new equipment is
needed.
Many old concrete roads require
constant attention, he said. He
agreed with tax board members on
the advantage of the patrol system.
but said that he felt it would take
time to bring it about and in
Marion County the plan of oper-
atlng trucks in fleets with loading
machines would seem more feasible
than single truck patrols.
Hinder tho
constantly work on certain road
sectors. At present they are used
when needed and the numerous
superintendent work but part time
according to Sutton.
Differ ON School Levy
Should the Taxpayers Association
suggestions be put into effect, the
rate would be increased .OO5 from
last year, making it 80.
The Taxpayers Association and
the civic affairs division of the
Chamber of Commerce differed on
possible reduction of the proposed
school levy. The association repre-
sentativeS commended that the bud
get submitted by A. F.. Walsman.
business manager of the schools.
was in fine shape.
Their only suggestion was tc
sprad an item OF 100000 of a 1892
900 deficit to cover more than a
one-year period.
William Book of the chamber OBJ
iected and submitted an itemized
proposal of cuts to be made. not
only in the 1929, but the 1928 budget
for the last six months.
The six-month budget he proposed
would result in a $4,000 balance
rather than a $4,000 deficit, anc
permit 98-cent levy for 1929, he
contended.
The matter was fought out item
by item, WalSman at times losing
patience with Book and declaring
he didn't care for this quiz and
would leave his estimates to the
board, as hhe believed it would re-
gard them as conservative.
Books main objections to the
month budget came in the items
for repairs and janitors' salaries.