Keller v. Scranton

Opinion by Mr. Justice Mitchell, The general scheme of the constitution with regard to the [588] amount of municipal indebtedness is clear. Section 8 of article 9 divides such indebtedness into three classes considered with reference to amount, first, debt exceeding seven per cent of the assessed value of taxable property, which is absolutely prohibited, except as to cities whose debt exceeded seven per cent at the time of the adoption of the constitution; second, new debt or increase of indebtedness by the municipal authorities, which is permitted to the extent of two per cent of assessed value; and third, new debt or increase of indebtedness exceeding two per cent but less than seven per cent of assessed value, which is permitted with the assent of the electors at a public election. The words of the section with which we are directly concerned are, “ Nor shall any municipality or district incur any new debt or increase its indebtedness to an amount exceeding two per centum upon such assessed valuation of property without the assent of the electors thereof.” This though a limitation on the power of creating debt is also a recognition of its existence. The power to raise and spend money for public purposes is a necessary attribute of all governments, and in our system has always been exercised by the legislative branch of municipalities under such regulations as the legislature of the state has prescribed. The constitutional provision puts a limit on the power, and on the legislature’s authority to confer it, but at the same time is a recognition of the power as exercised by the municipalities. Hitherto it had been without limit not only as to amount of expenditure but also as to time and mode of payment; it is still without limit as to amount of expenditure, if paid or means of payment provided at the time, but beyond two per cent of assessed value, it cannot be authorized as a debt for the future without the assent of the electors obtained at a public election. The result of the provision is that the municipal authorities, charged with the raising and spending of public money incident to the current expenses of the government, still have the same power they have always hitherto had as to the creation of public debt up to the two per cent limit, and the same power to the further limit of seven per cent if authorized by a vote of the electors. The immediate necessity for money in the administration of the municipality’s affairs may vary from day to day and the mode of. meeting it was not [589] intended to be taken out of the discretion of the ordinary municipal authorities, up to the prescribed limit, fixed as sufficient to provide for ordinary requirements. But when an extraordinary occasion or demand arises, requiring more than two per cent, then the assent of the voters must be obtained, and it will be sufficient up to the prescribed limit of seven per cent. The order in which these two powers may be exercised is not prescribed, and is not material. What the section is concerned with is the amount of the indebtedness of each class, not the order in which it is incurred. It was found as a fact by the learned judge below, that at the time the ordinance in question was passed, the debt of the city was more than two per cent of the assessed value of taxable property therein, but that part of the debt had been duly authorized by a vote of the electors, and if this were deducted from the gross amount the remainder, created by the councils without special authorization by the electors, might be increased by the estimated debt to be incurred under the ordinance, without reaching the two per cent limit. Under such circumstances the debt was within the authority of councils and the ordinance valid. The decree is reversed and bill directed to be dismissed with costs.