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At a balled meeting of the City Council, held on ~ay 2tst, 1959, there were pres-
<br />
<br />B~W. Baker, A.C. Bartlett, W.E. Breedlove, R.B. Seward, R. Irvine Smith,
<br />George B. Walker, H. Earl Weisem~n, A.P. Johnson,Jr., City Manager, and
<br />J.S. Livesay, Jr., City Attorney.
<br />
<br />The follov~ng 0all for the meeting was read:
<br />
<br /> "You are requested to attend a special meeting of the City Council, in the
<br />Council Chamber at S:00 P.M., on Thursday, Nay 21st, 1959, called for the purpose of holding a public hearing
<br />on the proposed Capital Improvement Ordinance. By Order of the President."
<br />
<br />The City Manager read the following letter:
<br />
<br /> 59-123 - "I have recommended to you the adoption of the proposed ordinance on the utili -
<br />ties which we are considering tonight. The ordinance as proposed, places a tax of 15% on the users of electri-
<br />city, gas, water and telephones.
<br /> Under the present ordins~uce, this tax is now 10%;however, with the proposed 15%
<br />there ~as been placed some limitations which I feel are just. There has be~n some misunderstanding concerning
<br />t~his which I would like to clear up. These are the following changes:
<br /> On the residential users of gas services, the 15% would only apply to the first
<br />$6.00 of the bill. There would be no tax above this amount. For the residential users of electric services,
<br />the 15% will apply only to the first $12.00 of the electric bill, there being no tax above this amount. This
<br />means that for the residential users, the maximum tax for gas would be $0.90 and the maximum tax for electricity
<br />would be $1.80 per month. Noresidential users would pay above this amount e~ch month.
<br /> On the commercial and industrial users, the 15% would apply to the first $200.00
<br />of each bill. No tax would be paid above the $200.00 by commercial and industrial users. Under the present
<br />ordinance these funds are restricted for only school construction and repairs at the present time. My proposal
<br />would change this section of the ordinance and restrict it to capital improvements only. This does not exclude
<br />the construction of future schools.
<br /> Since the present Utility Ta~ Ordinance has been in effect, we have constructed
<br />from this fund the Woodrow..Wilson High School, the Norcom High School, the S.H. Clarke Jr. High School, the John
<br />Tyler School, the Emily Spong School, the Douglas Park School, the Mt. Herman School and the Park View school.
<br />Bonds were issued for the payment of these schools and the City is paying approximately $400,000.00 annually on
<br />these facilities. There will be no material reduction on this debt service until 1986 at which time the payment~
<br />will decrease around $20,000.00 annually.
<br /> If this ordinance is adopted, it would give the City. approximately $300,000.00
<br />annually for a Capital Improvement Program. tt is apparen~ that there are many sections of the City that need
<br />adequate drainage and curbs and gutters.
<br /> It is my desire to initiate a drainage and curb and gu~er progra~ with these
<br />additional funds. This ~ program could be started immediately and continued as funds become available expending
<br />approxi ately $250,000.00 annually. This would require approximately six Fears to accom~ish the amoun~ of
<br />drainage and curbs and ~utte~s needed. ! also think that this should be done on a pay as you go basis as the
<br />funds become available.
<br /> With the balance of the funds available and any. funds derived from the sale of
<br />City property, which I recommend be credited to this fund, I believe that we would have between $75,000.00
<br />and $100,000.00 annually for other Capital Improvements that the Council might deem necessary."
<br />
<br />T~e following people spoke for the adoption of theordinance:
<br />
<br />Louis H. Keller
<br />P.E. Wnukoski
<br />W.H. Wood, Jr.
<br />
<br />On moticm adjourned.
<br />
<br />City Clerk.
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