The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-05-27

There is no place where It could be housed. Nor fo
the state teachers convention.
Bismarck athletes have been able to win outstanding
supremacy in state contests. but as far as bringing any
of the big contests here, that is impossible under presen,
conditions: and one Of the arguments for the memorial
community building with its proposed big auditorium is
based on the possibility of holding some Of the state
wide competitions here.
The more people that can be brought into Bismarck
in the course Of a year, the more the business and
prestige of the city will thrive and 1t is on such advan-
tages that cities grow and expand and increase their i'm
portancc. Indirectly, the money gains made by bring
ing in conventions and state gatherings percolates out
into the entire community. Those who gain it may
extend this indirect benefit to others by assuming a
greater portion OF taxation. relieving the smaller tax
payers to that extent. And by spending their increas-
ing incomes on improvements. as they do, they create
new jobs along with community growth and provide
greater opportunities for labor in general.
The big argument on the building for those vino are
afflicted with timidity lest it hit their pccketbooks too
hard. is the matter OF increased taxes If the city bond
issue be put over. The campaign committee has gone
into that phase of the proposal and has calculated the
amounts that will fall on properties. The analysis Of the
city debt and tax situation made by the campaign COM
mittee arrives at several statements. One emphasizes the
claim that on the major portion Of the citys debt no
taxes are paid. This refers to the waterworks, which
are represented in the city indebtedness total by $3.50. 900.
These waterworks are self -supporting from their revenues
in water service charges on consumers.
Deducting the waterworks portion of the total debt of
1852 969 35. there remains 1922, s69.35 requiring taxation
for retirement and for interest. meanwhile.
For retirement purposes the waterworks has built up
a sinking fund of $5l 9l984. and the city's general sinking
fund totals ~$30.l5746. these combined making an off
set OF ~SS2.077.3O. This reduces the net bonded indebted
of the city to $470. 892.O5.
Other public debts for the taxpayer to consider are
that of the city schools. total. Sl65, 900, sinking fund $685.
864.l6. leaving a net debt of sl29. l65l "a: OF Burleigh coun-
ty. total $4,000, less sinking fund of 1925. 50, a net
of $8.O744l; all of which, grouped. shows a net bond
ed indebtedness of $224,669.2 20 for the Bismarck taxpayer
to support and retire. The Legion contrasts this with a
total taxable property valuation in the city of Sl8.500,-
900. which. 1t contends. reduces the debt to the proper
tons Of mot a great deal"
The campaign committee has made a careful estimate
Of tax increase which the proposed building would entail. |
1t would be 60 cents per s., 900 of value. A building worth
$4,000 thus would pay S. additional annually. A $5,O
home would pay 50; a $4,000 home, sl.2o: a 1000 prop
$4.20. The little home owner with a house valued
at $500 would pay 80 cents only. If it were worth
$4,000. he would pay slso; II $500. the increase would
be $40. Every property owner can figure out what
the increase would be on his property by multiplying 60
cents by the number Of thousands of valuation, with
30 cents for each additional $500.
Friday the taxpayers of Bismarck will have to decide
they are going to do about this project. If they
reject 1t now, the veterans can 60 ahead and build their
building on the fund to be derived by the annual tax
that brings in SCI, 900. The community gains no
advantage from such a building. Any subsequent COM
munity building undertaken will be short just s84, 900
to assist in its construction. Instead Of combination,
the community will decide for piecemeal construction,
probably greater expenditure and there will be absence
Of concentration of the activities to be housed. The OBJ
Of those backing the memorial, as now planned. is
to reduce overhead by concentration Of uses. In this
way the city and county will get more for their money
and a more effective building will be possible. It is
hardly debatable that those who can see their way clear
to assuming the slight additional obligation in tax and
for the bond issue will be providing the city and
county a new means of growth and development which,
as Mayor Lenhart says, will be a benefit to the whole
southwestern Slope country and mutually SO to this
community itself.
Who remembers when it was considered virtually i'm
possible for an eligible girl to attract a real catch unless
she could paint a lot Of yellow roses on a china pin tray?
One objection to the present deluge of hero songs is
that so many seem to have been written with a fountain
pen.
It's a queer quirk of the world that the gutter gets
at by the guy who hasn't the nerve to begin.
Editorial Comment