The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-05-10
THE NEW MAYORS POLICIES

The new city officials, elected early in April took
over the administration Monday evening. DIR. Storkan
succeeded Mayor Beans as chief executive while the
Council personnel remained the it was.
Dr. Storkan seems to be taking the matter of adj
mnistering the affairs of the city seriously, and in
spite of the that he is busy with his medical prac
tice going give his personal attention to those
affairs, which is very commendable.
The new mayor is insisting policy of economy:
he is going to put the town business basis, pay
the debts, keep the expenditures within the income, IN
other words balance the budget and at the time
lower the tax levy
To do these things the cutting of expenses of
getting dollars worth for every hundred cents
expended and put the policy into operation requires
ntestnes and vertebrae-for is just bound to
be hurt However, it looks if the doctor is equipped
for the job at hand.
In carrying his purpose, Mayor Storkan has cut
salaries wherever possible. This was necessary if
economy were to advance beyond conversation Natur
ally this is causing opposition the part of
those affected The mayor proposed to cut the Fire
Chief salary $4,000 to $4,000 per year In real
izng this some friction developed when Chief Helm
fused to for the lesser sum- he submitted to
the Council the name of Carl West for appointment
for the position West feeling that he could perform
the work for the price offered. However, the City
Council refused to ratfy the appointment of Mr. West
and after the development of some heat, the matter
went until the next meeting
Mayor Storkan also purposes to abolish the payment
of the dollar per to the members of that depart
nent He insists that it is voluntary and that the dol
lar per is nducement anyway. The mayor points
out in support of his policy that the law only allows
two mill levy for fire purposes which produces about
$3.50 per year, which is insufficient to pay $3.50 for
chief and the dollar per to the "a members the
department Cast year there "a runs costing $24
per $576-S26 than produced by the levy
and retire at the time warrant overdrafts exist
ing in the of $4,000 bearing interest at the rate
of five per cent.
The sondness of the mayors position is obvious and
cannot understand how the council can expect to
confound it.
DR.. StOrgan is not just picking on the fire depart
ment He has cut the wages of the city attorney $19O
per year, reducing it from $3.50 to $780, We under
stand that the of the police force have also been
cut He is taking steps to reduce the tribute the city
paying to the Montana-Dakota Power Company for
street lighting and the cost of maintaining the city
water department.
And, finally, he is striving to enlarge the revenues
of the city by bringing into the city limits the adjacent
residences of people who have businesses in the city
and who enjoy all the privileges and advantages Of
the city yet do not contribute their share toward its
maintenance. 1t is to be hoped that the mayor may
succeed in this undertaking. but it will take fight anC
lots of determinatonthe extra revenue derived from
this will ease the burdens the taxpayers who arr
now paying what the others should be-
The tax levy for the city of Pentywood is very hgl
namely 4S1O mills. If reference be made to the tas
notice it will be observed that the city nearly
large as the county and state tax combined; to be ex
act the total tax for all state and all county purposes
Is AZ mills Besides this it cost the taxpayers of schoo
district No TO- forty mills to maintain the public
schools here.
mayor Storkan is rights the taxes in Plentywood arr
TOO high and should be lowered The only way to lowe
taxes is 70 lower expense To bond the deficits is cas-
put is only begging the question In the carrying out
eis iauOaDe policy the mayor should have the heart
support of every tax payer
however much we are in sympathy with the mayo
IN most OF his IDEAS feel that he made mistak
Wnen ne submitted the of Oscar Collins for chic