The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-10-18
Would Be
Only Small
Tax Boost
So Say Those Working For
New County Court
House.
PRESENT NUMEROUS
OTHER ARGUMENTS

Whenever the taxpayers of COM
munity are asked to authorize the is
suing of bonds which they will eventu-
ally have to pay, it is only fair that
a clear understanding of the matter be
placed before them. With that idea IN
mind, the men who are now proposing
a new court house for Lincoln county
advance the following explanation in
regard to the matter, the explanation at
this time dealing with the matter OF
taxation and what the proposed court
house would cost the average taxpayer.
The taxpayers of the county will be
asked to authorize the building of a
court house to cost not to exceed S75,-
600. The plan contemplates securing
grant from the federal PWA which
would be 80 per cent of the cost of all
labor and materials going into the
building. That would figure approx
mately $22,5O0 that would be obtained
as a gift from the PWA, leaving bal
ance of $50, 500 to be raised by the tax
payers of the county over a period OF
20 years. The government would adj
vance this balance and interest on it
would be paid at the rate Of 4 per cent
per year until the Indebtedness was
paid off
This is how the entire transaction
would work out.
The assessed valuation of Lincoln
county is $4,500,000 in round numbers.
A / mill levy on that would provide
$500 per year which amount would be
sufficient to pay off the obligation.
both principal and interest--in a 20
year amortization plan.
Now just what would that cost the
average taxpayer per year. Here are
few sample figures to give that infor-
nation to all interested taxpayers.
A taxpayer with 4 81 500 assessed val
uation would pay .-....-.-5ec per year
$4,000 assessed valuation would pay
..........--....-...-...........-.- per year
$3.50 assessed valuation would pay
per year
5000 assessed valuation would pay
................................... $1o0 per year
A,00o assessed valuation would pay
............................... per year
$500 assessed valuation would pay
...............-............ $1.G7 per year
These figures are estimated on prop
erty that would take taxable value
of one-third the assessed valuation,
while large percentage Of the average
persons property would be taxed at
less than third of the assessed valua-
ton.
Many Other Arguments.
There are many other arguments that
are being advanced to show the desir-
ability of building new court house
at this time. Some of these have been
enumerated by l. S. WEIGH, one of the
committee working on the proposal
Along about rs years ago Lincoln
county was in the making, and it was
then that our present court house
structure was contracted for" said Mr.
WEIGH in a recent interview. Amid
haste and confusion and with a posi-
bility that the structure was uncertain
one of temporary needs was agreed
upon. Then the county records were
obtained from our parent county Of
F1athead at considerable expense, anc
both the records and the expense there
for have been materially added to since
that time up to the present.
Now we have all these valuable
records that we could in no way re-
place If once lost, housed in this same
frame structure, heated by some dozer
or more stoves, that are therefor In
very hazardous repose So for the SAX,
of safety to our public documents w
need more secure structure, one a
least that is considered fire proof.
while in the process of creating
safety for our records we can at tn
same time house our county librar.
and Jail under the same roof, thereb
consolidating our county branches, an
save considerable overhead by SO doing
'The plan whereby this is feasible
the P.W.A finance plan, which we ar
told is to continue, under a slight
varied set up. This new set up on pub
lie works is to continue in order to in
crease unemployment relief and TIL
relief is given to the states that coop
crate with the government SO that tn
state in reality must exact this sam
stipulation from its units of governmer
in order to give the counties furtht
relief. Therefor by aiding the govern
ment in its program we are merel
helping ourselves by obtaining MOI
relief funds.
"Then we do need new court hou
for the safety Of our records, for aidir
in unemployment relief and for stabili
in unifying our county branches und
the one roof.
aAs stated, we have been inform,
that P.W.A will continue, SO this pl;
of financing will be available, wherel
we can obtain 80 per cent grant,
the total cost Of the building The &C
being $4,000, less the grant OF S22,5
would leave s52,5O0 for the county
take care Of. Now our county is in e
cellent shape at this time to take ca
of this amount in that it would only 7
quire a / mill levy to pay both the
terest and principal.
"On first thought this amount mif
seern ike d burden of taxation as