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Show Tax Promises 4 -v VVHEN the electorate names officials for im-" im-" portant posts, It .not only expects redemp- iorijoljledgesiyenjiijheam but it also contemplates ah economical administration. adminis-tration. For quite a number of years the taxpayers tax-payers of Salt Lake City and county have been given annual promises of relief from the heavy burden of taxation. In the city particularly, each and every budget session has apologized for the tax rate and promised to reduce it In the succeeding suc-ceeding year. When the record rate was established ' last year, the temper of the taxpayers was anything but mild, and yet there was a disposition to bear with the commissioners on account of conditions growing out of the war which made immediate adjustments difficult. At that time, however, the city commission offered what the taxpayers could regard as a pledge, a promise to reduce expenses so that a reduced rate could be had this year. Now It appears that the promise will not be kept and that the tax rate this year will be even higher than It was a year ago, when the rate exceeded every precedent. Perhaps the commission commis-sion should be reminded that further promises are - worthless and"tharTtsmemberscannof liopeo escape responsibility for Increases this year with promises ef future economies. Past promises have been weighed and found wanting; so that, futurf pledges cannot cirrj hope to overburdened taxpayers. " . A higher tax rate can mean but one thing, and that is that the commissioners have not kept faith with the people... They have created a condition con-dition which makes retrenchment difficult by undertaking unauthorized expenditures. They have taken too much upon themselves in the handling of city funds. They have created deficits In the bond Issue of a number of years ago which are to be met only from the general funds and which constitute a betrayal of the public trust. In addition, they diverted a trust fund to the j general treasury, contrary to good business prac-t tice. Years ago the city established a perpetual care fund for the City cemetery. People expecting perpetual care of their cemetery ceme-tery lots paid a special fee, which was to go to the reserve fund. The Income from this fund was tp provide the money necessary to give per--v petual care to these lots. This money has been spent by the city commission and now tf the plots are to be cared for, for other purposes the public will be required to provide the money necessary for this care each year. Lavish and extravagant spending has brought the city, commission to its present plight and its members are to be reminded that the public Is in no mood to tolerate further abuses of Its confidence. If the membership of the commission , cares anything for its future In the public grace, it will effect economies which will enable them to keep the pledges made a year ago. |