Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-11-14
NeaU Advertisements
Mouorn hor z 1871 IL

In COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF STANTON, 4 !
November 7, 1871.
The Committee on Finance submitted Report
which, being considered, was adopted, in the
words and figures following, to wit sI
70 the President and * ~
Gentlemen of the City Council.
The Finance Committee to whom referred
(by resolution of the Councl), the reports Of the
Treasurer Clerk, and Chief of Police exhibit
ing the financial condition of the City, July l,
1871. We earnestly invite the attention of the
Council to said said reports as question of in
terest to each NJ ember to know the true financial
condition of the city when came into Office
July 1st, 1871.
We will new give from these reports before US,
the aggregate amounts allowed and unpaid by
the Treasurer, appropriations, contracts made
of 1870 on hand July l, 1871 to pay said appro-
priations. By comparing these reports we lind
as follows
The sums due, allowed and unpaid
by the Treasurer, July l, 167l.."... So, 359 %
Due on contracts authorized and un-
fulfilled, and appropriations, ....... ,255. So
Allowance out Of the Revenue of
1870 to pay city bond held by j.
- n. Hendren, Esq, and unpaid. :. 4 eco 90
Total aggregate of outstanding appro-
priations............... ............Sll ,615. %
By the same reports we also find all the avail
able revenue of the city, in cash and taxes re-
1871. to pay the above appropriations are as fol-
lows :sva1o-
Balance in the Treasury, July l, 1871, 7.13
Available taxes in the hands OF Chief
of Police, July l, 1871................. 1896
Total assets July l, 1871, 81, 1866. 40
From this statement the fact appears, after de-
Quoting 81 1855. 40 assets from Sill 6l525, author
zed appropriation, have adeficlt OF ST ~ To-
The allowance to pay the city bond, held by j.
N. Hendren. Esq, of So, GOO % must, therefore,
be thrown out of the account, it is impossible
to pay the same out of the revenues of 1870 or
1o9 = 10
be paid out of the revenue of 1871 The tax I'M
posed for the year 1871, is SCI 707
Allowance for delinquents
and contingencies, ...........P S., 22SO0
Deficit fund, July l, 1911. 3,349.76
For support of Free Schools, 100000
Less "...9, 47776
We have net revenue for 1871 of 49,. $12 270 II
to carry on the current expenses of the city gov
ernment for the year 1871. There is no use dis
guising the fact, after completing the bridges de-
stroyed by the food of 1870, and doing the ordi-
| nary repairs, we are unable to commence any
| expensive new improvements. We think it best
| to tell our people exactly where the city finances
star d, for petition after petition is sent to this
! Council asking in the aggregate large appropri-
| ations, to be expended in improving the various
| portions of the city, which by all means should
| be made. But we are admonished by the sum
left the Council we cannot grant said petitions,
unless we incur debt anticipate the revenue
| of 1872. And these are questions of serious I'M
pOrtanCo Wnon we CONSIDER Jne interest, anu Tie
sinking fund of the Valley Railroad Subscrip-
ton (already made), must be provided for in the
| tax of 1872. The estimate of the Finance Com
mittee of the tax of 1872, soon to be imposed,
will not be less than $3.50 on each hundred dol
lars worth of property, real and personal, as
| follows:
For current expenses. 6O
For support of Free Schools, ......... 70
For Interest and Sinking Fund Valley
Railroad Subscription, 6O
| Add State Tax, 5O
I0ta Sl oU
| In view of all these facts, the earnest advice of
the Finance Committee to the Council is, let no
unnecessary or unwise appropriations be made,
but let US strictly adhere to the principles OF
economy, and bring our expenditures within our
means. For already, in the first three months
of our term of office, one half of the revenue Of
| 1871, left US, $50, 27011, has been appropriated
and expended. Unless we practice more econo-
my it were useless for us to remind the Council
| of the fact, long before our term of Office ex-
pires we will incur large amount of debt, and
our people be cursed with burdensome and
oppressive tax for the year 1872 We may vel
! pause to ask will not the fortitude of the people
| of Staunton begin to fail under the burden o
taxation. In closing our report, we again urge
| the Council to more economical administration
of the city government.
JOHN B. EVANS,
| ISAAC WITT.
G. r. COCHRAN.
A copy-teste,
JAMES T. PATTERSON, Clerk.
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