Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-02-19

the cause of delinquent taxes and
delinquent taxes are one main cause
of high taxes for those who pay their
taxes.
Some time ago the county board
bonded the county for 100000 to take
up outstanding road and bridge orders
AT this time they passed a resolution
agreeing among themselves to there
after abolish the use of red ink on
the county books and remain on a
cash basis. Shortly after this, John
Etters toll bridge across the st. Croix
river was completed. The road lead
ing to the bridge was not in the best
of condition and in order to make
money on toll bridge it is neces-
sary to have people use it. Messrs.
Ettel and Stepan owned stock in this
toll bridge and of course, were there
fore very deeply interested in the
earnings of the bridge. So the next
move was to make a boulevard out of
the road leading to the bridge in order
to attract the traffic. The road and
bridge treasury was empty and so
forthwith they violated their resolu-
tiOn and commenced issuing orders.
In April 1880 the amount of these
orders outstanding was over $4,000.
Whether they were discounted or not
| do not know, but it would not be I'M
reasonable to assume that $1,000 in
interest was paid on them. So much
for Mr.. Stepan's efficient manage
ment
Section s of Chapter 2S3, Laws of
1929 reads, in part, as follows:
In the construction of county aid
roads townships shall contribute not
less than ten nor more than thirty
per cent of the cost of same, as the
county board may determine, and fur
Their that the county board may by
resolution waive as to any town the
requirement that it shall contribute
towards that construction of county
aid road. Here, Mr.. Stepan was your
opportunity to save the taxpayers
some money. Did you take advantage
of that opportunity? No, of course
not, you favored the thirty per cent
contribution by the townships and
thereby increasing the taxes. 1t re-
manned for other members of the
board to demand that the townships
contribution be reduced to at least
2O%.
Referring to your little dig at me
regarding the high tax rate in Wilma
township, where l reside. The writer
of your fog strip does not know that
all town taxes are not levied by the
town board so this will give you an
alibi for this blunder. Of the S3
mill tax in Wilma, ~ mills were
levied by the voters at the annual
town meeting. Five mills were levied
by the town board to meet your 2O%
contribution for the county aid road
system. The balance is for bond in
terest and principal. Probably 60 per
cent of which is an overload occa-
stoned by your high valuation theory
driving off the spectators. Of the
Al mill school tax 80 mills were levied
by the voters at the annual school
election, the remainder of II mills
were levied by the auditor for bonds
which were issued to build the Sand
stone school house. Until a couple
of years ago this levy was five mills.
The increased tax delinquency caused
by your high valuation theory has
more than doubled the rate on the
valuation that pays. Wilma town Of
ficers with the willing cooperation of
the residents of Wilma township have
carried out their part of the so called
wilma Plan" in that Wilma town.
ship is on a cash basis with the ex-
ception of the order the county audi
tor holds as contribution to the
county aid road fund, the work OH
which has not yet been started.
You, Mr.. Stepan, might just as well
whistle to stop storm as to attempt
to shake the confidence of the mem
bers of the tax league in their organi-
cation by your high valuation noise