The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-11-02
ELECTORS DECIDE
LOCAL and COUNTY
ISSUES TUESDAY
Larger Than Usual "Off Year"
Vote is Anticipated at
Polls Here
Sewer and School Levies are Up
Locally; Also County Fair
ground

Two local issues backed by
proponents of a municipal sewage
system and electors interested in re-
newal of a fve-mill levy for school
operating expenses are expected to
bring a heavier-than-usual "off year.
vote in Bluffton at next Tuesdays
general election.
A third special countrywide issue,
the one-mill fairgrounds bond pro-
posal, probably also will swell the
voter turnout in rural districts
particularly, making this years cleo
tion of prime significance to most
electors in the area.
With renewal of the school levy
not representing a new tax, most of
the interest in the special Bluffton
issues to date has centered around
the S180,000 sewage disposal issue,
which would mark a start on Bluff
toms long-delayed sewage treatment
program.
2.66 Levy
The general obligation bonds for
the sewage disposal plans will re-
quire an average annual levy of 2.66
mills, or S2.66 per $1,000 of valua-
ton, according to figures released
this week by Mayor w. A. Howe.
This would mean tax of S5.32
per year for property having a
valuation of $4,000.
In addition to the $1S0,000 in
general obligation bonds, it is
estimated that proceeding with the
sewage disposal plan at this time
would also require $195,000 in
special assessments, plus 100000
required in mortgage revenue bonds.
Cost $475,000
Total cost of the intercepting
sewers along Big and Little Riley
creek and the sewage treatment
plant is estimated at S475,00O by
Finkbeiner, Pettis and Strout, Toledo
engineering firm which is consultants
for the town on the program.
Assuming $50 lots in Bluffton, the
special assessment aggregating
S195,0OO would mean a levy of ap-
proximately $15 per year on the
average lot.
Cost of operation of the plant,
about $4,000 per year, together with
the debt service charge on 100000
in mortgage revenue bonds, amount
ing to $4,000 annually, would be
met by sewer rental charge based
on approximately so to 709o of the
patrons water bill.
s25-$3O Cost
This means the entire sewer and
treatment plant project on the basis
of present figures, would cost the
citizen owning property valued at
$4,000 from $25 to $50 per year for
a maximum period of 25 years.
Renewal of the five-mill school
issue will not represent a new tax,
for similar levies will expire this
year. Local organizations have been
unanimous in their support of the
school levy as means of continuing
Bluffton's modern school curriculum
School Levy Needed
In stressing the Importance OF
renewal of the levy, school authori,
ties have pointed out that the $4,000
received annually from the fve-mil
levy represents nearly one-third OF
the total school budget of approxi
mately 100000.
The one-mill fairgrounds issue fol
permanent improvements to the new
Lima grounds would eliminate ex
penditures totalling several Thousand
dollars each year, fair officials
pointed out this week.
Fairgrounds Issue
Charges for rental and erection o
tents would be eliminated, and il
addition the development of
modern fairgrounds would be as
sured by support of the issue.
Federal restrictions on construc
ton of buildings would not affec
the plans for improving the fair
grounds, it was pointed out thi
week.
improvements projected includ
three cattle barns, sheep, swine an
poultry buildings, show and sal
arena, merchants display and al
buildings, race track, grandstand
and speed barns, and completio
of landscaping, fencing and tilng.