Waggener High School - RingBrothersHistory.com

The Voice of St. Matthews, April 20, 1950:DON’T LET SCHEMING INTERESTS SMASH ST. MATTHEWSLET’S ACT NOW TO SAVE THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITYLouisville Doesn't Want To Annex Us Its Only Wants To Stall and Delay UsLouisville does not actually want to annex St. Matthews.Louisville has had 25 years in which to annex us. Now why this sudden haste?It only wants to hinder, delay and scuttle our plans to incorporate and grow.The officials of the City of Louisville have been advised by prominent and responsible citizens of the City and the Countynot to touch St. Matthews. Whether we like the expression or not we are a HOT POTATO for Louisville.Why would Louisville want to annex St. Matthews?The answer is plain and simple. IT ONLY WANTS TO BE ABLE TO SEND US AN ANNUAL TAX BILL OF $2.97 ONEACH $100 PROPERTY VALUATION. The City’s officials openly say we would be “too expensive” for the City tomaintain as they well know we have a right to be and should be maintained.Yes, Louisville wants to saddle St. Matthews with that $2.97 tax rate, if and when Louisville is able and ready to annex us.BUT HOW MUCH IS LOUISVILLE WILLING TO SPEND IN ST. MATTHEWS FOR MAINTENANCE AND IM-PROVEMENTS? Ask, the “experts” that question.There are over 4,000 automobiles in St. Matthews. Do you own an automobile that is valued at $1,000, or more? Did youknow that the $2.97 tax rate will apply to your car as well? It will cost you $29.70 a year to Louisville to own that $1,000car.If you live in St. Matthews and work in Louisville, you already are paying that 1 percent occupational tax, If you make$1,000 a year in Louisville, you already are paying the City of Louisville $10.00 a year to earn that. And there is no assurancethat the occupational tax will not be raised.The truth is that the City of Louisville wants to “take” St. Matthews for a tax ride, if it can. And it doesn’t want to spendanything of that high tax revenue on us. It wants to spend the money in other areas in Louisville.Our answer to the City of Louisville on. that one is:GO GET THE TAXES FROM THE PLACES WHERE YOU INTEND TO SPEND IT.Louisville is not interested in our streets, our sewers, our traffic problem, our general municipal welfare. IT ONLYWANTS US FOR WHAT IT CAN SUCK OUT OF US IN TAX REVENUE. The City fumbled with annexation attemptson St. Matthews AND WAS BEATEN. It is fumbling again. And while Louisville is fumbling, it is trying to keep St. Matthewsdivided AGAINST ITS BEST INTERESTS.One prominent Louisville official told the Louisville City officials it would be unwise and uneconomic for Louisville toattempt any more annexation. THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE IS UNABLE NOW TO RENDER PROPER AND ADE-QUATE SERVICES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF ITS OWN CORPORATE MUNICIPALITY.Could St. Matthews expect any services out of the City of Louisville? Let the “experts” answer that one.Oh, but we can keep our sewer system—and pay for it ourselves— if Louisville annexes us. They promise us that much.BUT ARE WE SUCK-ERS? We would be payingdouble. We would be paying for the sewer systemplus that $2.97 tax rate. AND THAT WOULDHELP LOUISVILLE PAY FOR ITS OWN SEWERSYSTEM, WHICH IS INADEQUATE; ANDAGAINST WHICH THERE STILL IS A DEBTOUTSTANDING OF $17,000,000.Our streets right now are abominable. It is sore tothe eye and to the nerve to drive or to walk throughthem. But St. Matthews HAS A GOOD CASE OFGROWING PAINS. When the sewers .are finished,the streets will be in better shape than they were before.Yes, our streets and our traffic are a sad mess. Butthe worst is done. While we have floundered throughthis mess, the City of Louisville has lain quietly bywaiting for a chance ‘to pounce on us.THE CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS, James H. NolandChairman, Board of Trustees—advertisement4 Page —Advertisement