Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Coral Gables Times
Thursday, April 12, 1962, page 15 (of 31)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
About Streets and Who Pays: It's a Complicated Affair
Who pays for repaving a Coral Gables street? The state? — sometimes. The county? — more often. The abutting property owners? — as a rule. Recent public hearings before the City Commission for the purpose of setting up local improvement districts to cover the expense of street repaving have revealed much public confusion on this question. Any broad generalization must be hedged with reservations because responsibility for roads and streets is divided among state, county and municipal governments. Some Federal aid is involved also, but Federal funds are administered by the state. Principally, the state is concerned with the improvement and maintenance of the highways of the primary road system, which is defined as arterial and other primary roads. The funds come from the first 4 cents of the state gasoline gallonage tax. In Coral Gables, U.S. Highways No. 1 and No. 41 fall into this category. Roads and streets within the county are financed generally from the proceeds of the 5th, 6th and 7th cent of the state gasoline gallonage tax. These funds are allocated to the secondary road system and to the county road system by a complex and sometimes obscure formula. The secondary system consists of roads selected by the County Commission for construction by the State Road Department. Some of these are included in part within the boundaries of municipalities. Le Jeune Road is an example of this procedure. The county road system covers roads and streets which are not maintained either by the state or by a municipality, although again some streets within municipal boundaries are included. These are arterial streets which carry traffic much of which originates outside the municipality. Bird Road and Coral Way are typical examples. Some 17 miles of roads within Coral Gables are maintained by the country, as parts of the secondary or of the county road systems. The assumption of county responsibility in such cases is usually the result of a request by the City government to the County Commission. All other streets within Coral Gables are the responsibility of the City. Normally, the expense of maintaining streets (repair of potholes, re-oiling, etc.) is defrayed by the City from the general fund. The cost of street reconstruction or resurfacing, however, is financed by special assessments on abutting property. The cost of such improvements at intersections is borne by the City, as is the cost of drainage.
Free Ride By County?
Are residents of the unincorporated areas freeloading on city residents on costs of street and road maintenance? "Everybody says that, but when you break down, it's not so," said Highway Engineer John McCue. As a matter of fact, said McCue, the opposite case could be made for maintaining the 2,600 miles of streets in Dade County. McCue based this on the fact that most of the traffic is in the cities, generated by city residents, and that pot hole filling by the County is a small item in comparison. The complicated financing arrangement involving local, state and federal funds (see accompanying box) makes it virtually impossible to break down the figures in any final way, McCue said. For instance, he pointed out, how would you break down the contribution made by tourists in paying the seven-cent gas tax? "Very little money is spent on residential and collector streets," said McCue. "A lot of money is spent on arterial streets." These are located mostly in the cities and used by everyone.
take a GOOD LOOK at our NEW LOOK welcome to the NEW SMF MAIN OFFICE
OPENS MONDAY APRIL 16th MONDAY, APRIL 16th thru THURSDAY, APRIL 19th, 9:00 to 4:00 FRIDAY, APRIL 20th, 9:00 to 3:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 SATURDAY, APRIL 21st, 9:00 to 4:00 (Family Fun Day) FREE: ....Party Days! GOLDEN CAR KEY and ring—18 kt. gold plated — with your initial, made while you wait! MATCH BOOKS REFRESHMENTS . . . and special "ROCKET" book just for the youngsters, too! PONY RIDES! Be sure to bring the kiddies on SATURDAY, APRIL 21st for our special FAMILY FUN DAY from 9:00 to 4:00. There'll be free pony rides . . . Pepsi's . . . SOUVENIRS . . . and good old fashioned fun for all in our big new parking area. These are your days at SMF because you made them possible. So when you come into our beautiful new lobby, be sure to get your FREE . . . GOLDEN CAR KEY and ring — 18 kt. gold plated — with your initial, made while you wait! . . . MATCH BOOKS. . . . REFRESHMENTS and special "ROCKET" book just for the youngsters, too! . . . and now . . . the BIGGEST PART of the Party . . . The really big reason to celebrate . . . you'll find in our new facilities themselves. We hope you'll be just as pleased with them as we are, for they mean more and better service for you! a big new community room for your local club affairs more space for our executives and employees to serve you better and faster plenty of free parking space new drive-in teller windows to make your transactions quicker and easier both front and rear (parking lot) entrances These are Party Days . . . and you're the party we always want to please! So please come in to see us — often. THE SMF ALPHABET OF SERVICES C is for COMMUNITY ROOM (on the second floor). Your club or organization is invited to use this spacious, weather-conditioned hall for meetings and special events. It can accommodate 65 . . . has an ultra-modern kitchen for preparing snacks or full meals. We think you'll like its pleasing decor, comfort and convenience. Tell us when you want it. No charge, of course. L is for LOANS. Here you'll find it pleasant and simple to arrange a generous home loan to build, buy, improve, or refinance your home. You may also borrow on your savings account and SMF makes borrowing a friendly affair . . . See for yourself! N is for NEW ACCOUNTS. Accounts may be opened in your name only or jointly with a wife or husband, child or business partner. Children may open their own accounts, too. They'll enjoy watching their money grow and build a future for them. SMF's current dividend rate is 4 1/4% per annum — paid FOUR TIMES A YEAR. P is for PERSONAL PROTECTION. We created quite a stir with this oversized work-room — because it's also scientifically designed as a fallout shelter . . . the first of its kind in Dade County and a symbol of SMF's safety for people as well as money! R is for REST ROOMS. Most modern and always immaculate, S is for SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES. Ours are the first in South Dade. Now you can store your valuable documents, bonds, jewelry, etc. Keep them here . . . and stop your worrying. T is for TELLERS. When you put your money in their windows, you put it to work, earning dividends at the current rate of 4 1/4% per annum, compounded FOUR TIMES A YEAR. It's such a good place to make your money multiply because here it's secure . . . insured (up to $10,000) by an agency of the United States Government . . . and by the sound, efficient management of the modern SMF. MORE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS TRAVELERS CHEQUES . . . MONEY ORDERS . . . POSTAGE STAMPS . . . COIN SAVINGS BANKS . . . BORROWER'S LIFE INSURANCE PROTECTION . . . FREE NOTARY PUBLIC SERVICE . . . SAVE BY MAIL . . . U. S. SAVINGS BONDS . . . SE HABLA ESPANOL . . . SOUTH MIAMI FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION MO 1-4202 6075 SUNSET DR. (West of U. S. 1) SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA SUNILAND CENTER OFFICE 11517 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY MIAMI, FLORIDA 4 1/4% Per Annum • Paid Quarterly