Henderson daily dispatch., 1935-03-06

preparation of $1OOOOOOO a wear for
maintenance, which was the nsuaI an
inon ia.lOh Tor this purpose before
1900 When 1t was reduced to $6 OOO -
ooo ooo year III is also asking So
w" year 1or new construction. since
no state FUNDS have been snent on.
me construction of new roads since
1851 IL Will need in addition TO this
an average of $10,9OO,OOO a wear for
deot service, or total of at 1east
S3l,OOO,OOO a year for the next two
years.
But if the movements now op foot
to divert various sums from the biob-
way fund to other objects succeed the
highway department will have a to-
tai availability of only SIS. .7O3 5OO 8
year, instead of $31, 100000, including
debt service. If the debt service item
of $1O,9OQ000 year is deducted. only
$4,603,50 year is left for both high
way maintenance and construction
from the estimated current revenue
of S22,303, 500 a year for the next two
years
There are four definite and sepa-
rate proposals for the diversion of
highway funds now under considera-
ton which good many observers
believe the House will probably ap-
prove and perhaps the Senate as we'll,
which if they go through will take
$6,5OO,OOO out of the highway revenue.
This amount, plus the $10,9O0,OO0
year needed for debt service, leaves
only $4,6O3,500 of highway revenue
available for maintenance.
The diversion effort regarded as
most likely to succeed is that embod-
led in the bill to reduce the cost of all
tOmobile licenses for passenger cars
from a base rate of SIS cents per 100
pounds to 40 cents per 100 pounds
This bill is still in the House Roads
Committee, but will be reported be-
fore long. Most observers predict
that it will lpass the House with very
little opposition and probably pass
the Senate also. It will reduce the
expected revenue from the highway
fund by at least $1,5O0,OOO a year
It is also admitted that there is
very strong support in the House for
the Bowie bill which would direct the
highway commission to remit the pro-
tax back to the 100 counties for the
purpose of assisting the counties pay
off their road Indebtedness, debt serV-
ice or any necessary expenses Of said
counties" This bill would divert at
least So, 10000 a year from the high
way fund back to the counties to be
used by them for virtually any pur-
pose they might desire. Some re-
ports are that fully 80 per cent of the
house members have already agreed
to support this bill 1t is conceded
that it will be very difficult for many
members of both houses to vote
against this bill that would give them
SO, 100000 a year in cold cash to carry
back to their counties. even if it is
cash paid by the motorists in auto
mobile license and gasoline taxes.
There is virtually no doubt that both
the House and Senate will approve
the recommendation of the Budget
Commission to again divert $1,000 900
year from the highway to the gen
eral fund, as has been done the past
two years. There is already strong
sentiment in the finance committees
to boost this to 81 100000 a year while
the school forces want it increased to
So, 5O0,0 600 a year so that the school
appropriation can be fixed at $22,-
100000 year. -, J..
When these fear diversion moves
are totalled UP, they stand as follows:
Lower license fees ....... $1,5OOOOO
Bowie bill to counties .... 100000
To general fund ,........ 100000
For schools ....,..,..., ! ,5OO, ,OOO