Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1939-06-05
Indicates No Decrease
In New City Tax Rates
New Fire Truck, Another Standpipe Water
Storage and Other Proposals Offered; -Four
Aldermen Take Oaths of Office

ability of the citizens to pay taxes
should be considered. And during the
next seven years over rs per cent Of
our bonds will come due and these
cannot be all met without placing
too great an obligation upon the tax
payers. Therefore, it is recommend
ed that the interest and at least five
percent OF the principal sum OF the
total debt be paid each year, thus
retiring Our entire Indebtedness in
twenty years.
we should further go slow in is
suing new bonds for any purpose
where these bonds must be retired
from income derived from taxes, be-
cause if we are to retire our indebt-
ednesS it is necessary that no new
debt be incurred which must be paid
from money derived from taxes. In
fact, l will not hesitate to say l am
opposed to any bond issue until the
people have been given an oppor-
tunity to vote upon the same and
have expressed their approval or dis
approval.
Should the City Council follow
this recommendation, there will be
little, if any, reduction in our tax
rate of $l.60 a year this year. But
as the principal is paid off each year
and that amount of interest saved
there should be a steady reduction
in future years.
And with the improved condition
of the city's finances and bond rat
ing it would seem foolish to jeo-
pardze this standing. Because in the
past few weeks Moody's rating of
bonds has raised those of the City of
Henderson to the highest point in re-
cent years.
We are faced with the necessity
Of buying a new fire truck this year,
which is one of the reasons why /
feel that we cannot safely reduce the
tax rate. The two trucks which we
now have were bought in 1915 and
1921 and are outmoded and almost
worn out We have no ladders to
reach beyond the second story of a
building and no equipment to fight
fire in building of over two stories
In height. And to provide sufficient
protection to the lives and property
of our citizens a quadruple combina-
ton truck with a pump of not less
,..dn 1000 gallons per minute and
sufficient ladders to get into the third
story of any building in town should
be purchased.
Another item which should be
considered not only from the point
OF fire protection but also from the
standpoint of providing adequate
water supplies at all times is an
elevated storage tank of at least three
quarters of a million gallons cap
aclty. This is made necessary be-
cause from the standpoint of pres
sure (the only thing it is good for)
we have less than one hours reserve
OF water in the standpipe during the
hours when the peak consumption
is on. And, as we have only one line
from the pumping station to the
Standplpe, a break in this line, or
serious breakdown at the pumping
station might easily create water
shortage Of serious proportions. And
with an elevated tank, a day and
one half's supply would always be
available and any breakdown could
be repaired in this time.
l realize full we'll that this can
not be done this year, as the funds
are not available in cash, nor is the
Waterworlls at this time earning suf-
tlclent money to pay operating ex-
penses, bonds and interest and this
addition sum in bonds and interest.
But should no money be diverted
from the water company during this
year and all the profits now derived
from the water company be put back
into extending the existing lines the
income of the water works should be
materially increased.
And with this emergency facing us,
while am opposed to increasing the
water rates, I do feel that it would
he wise to cut the discount allowed
Tor payment of bills before the 10th
OF each month from six per cent to