New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-23

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70 the City Council Of New Orleans
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS budget before the
Council demands careful attention. Last
year the Administrator of Public Accounts
submitted, with tho budget, explanations
and recommendation in regard to it, and
promised, ON behalf of the Council, retrench-
ment in the future. This year he offers no
explanation or recommendation, and makes
NO promise either on the part of himself or
the Council. Tho budget should not b
passed in silence. A full exhibit of the
financial situation of the city should be laid
before the public in connection Herewith,
and . comprehensive policy and carefully
considered measures adequate to the ext
gency of the case should be adopted and
adhered to by the Council.
1t will not do to rely upon make-shifts,
temporary expedients and adroit financial
maneuvres to get through the difficulties
which the budget presents. A comprchen.
sive and permanent system of financial ad-
ministration which everybody can under
stand and rely upon is what is wanted. and
such system must be adopted if the city
is ever to emerge from its embarrassments.
In the absence Of suggestions from the Ad-
ministratOr of Public Accounts or any
other member Of the Council, l take occa-
sion to urge again my policy. l have, and
have had. but one, and that policy 1 have
never ceased to press upon the considers
ton of Administrators, from tho time of
our coming into Office until now. 1t ia to
bring down our expenses to the limit of our
resources and to enter upon NO public works
until We have the money or the credit to
pay for them ON q cash basis. Had this
policy been pursued rigidfy from the start,
l am satisfied that in spite of bad legisla-
tion and the extraordinary emergencies
arising from an unfortunate overflow and
other unforeseen 0auses, most of the diff
culties which now embarrass us would have
been avoided.
FINANCIAL RETROSPECT
In March, 1870, when the Lew charter
came into effect, the funded debt of the
city was ST., 1908, 900, and the floating debs
was represented to be s.. COG, 900, making q
total of 100000. The Legislature, to
disembarrass the city and enable it to re-
establish its credit. authorized the issue of
three million dollars of city bonds to fund
the floating debt. But it was found that
the amount of the floating debt had been
largely understated, that the $3,OOO,OOO
bonds were insufficient. and that $4,000
of claims were unprovided for. To dis
pose of this old floating debt thus left
over, and of a new deficit which had since
and also of an estimated deficit
for the year 1871, amounting in the aggre-
gate to Sl,97O,84O, it was proposed in No
vember last, when the budget was made up
for this year, to ask the Legislature for au-
thOrity for a further issue of bonds and
for power to impose an additional tax of
one per cent to fund the floating debt and
meet the anticipated deficit
The Legislature granted the bonds, but
refused the tax; and a legislative enactment
was subsequently found to have Cancelled
\ part five Fights Of one per cent? of the tax
which the Council had already imposed, and |
which was included in the estimate of it's cur !
'ent receipts. The result is, that though more |
han a million and half dollars of bonds, |
wharf and improvement: bonds,
nave since been issued, there will be at tho |
md of this year a floating debt Of 81 $780,
100.
Observe! There has been a steady in
rease Of the debt. In 1867, it was $l4,-
AZ, 900; in 1868, it was sl6,275 600; in 1869,
was ST. .O00,OO in 1870, it was slS, 3s7, 900;
n July last it was $4,000, 900: it is now
IL, $685. 900. Now, let us see what prospect
he budget before us presents.
NEXT YEARS RECEIPTS
The estimated receipts from tax
of one and three-quarters OF one
per cent, which is as high tax
as the Council can levy for pur-
poses Of the budget are. .... $2,25O, 900
rom all other sources except the
drainage tax, which, if collect
able, is for special purpose. 90. AL 900
Total receipts. So, 70l, 900
NEXT YEARS EXPENDITURES.
Without changing the amount of any of
he items of proposed expenditures, have
objected and arranged them under their
roper heads, but separating capital and in
crest in few instances. They are as fol
,ws:
alaries. ............. $l4S,77O
Wages. .......... $4,000
flee expenses. .... 29,l5O
eneral service. ... 73l 900
ire department. .... 10000
rintiny. $4,000
lighting ............ 100000
ents ali repairs. 800. $4,000
haHty. $1,000
Onting. mt expenses. 5O,O00-2, 469, 800
Interest,"
interest on current ac-
connts. $4,000
lterest On drainage
judgments. ......... 5000