The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-07
A FLATTER1NG PROSPECT.

At the request or suggestion OF members OF
the Property Holders Association Mr.. Brown,
Administrator of Accounts, has prepared an
estimate of the city revenues for the year
1876, in which he allows for licenses $3.50, OOO,
Water Works sl25,0Oo, market revenues
5000 600, wharf leases 10000, and tax on an
assessment of $125, 600, 900, at one and quar-
ter per cent, 81, 562, 500, less five per cent OF
amount Of tax for non payment (s7o, lO5), or
net tax 81, 484, 375, making total revenue OF
So, 259,375.
He also gives budget Of expenditures, the
total of which is equal to the above total OF
receipts, against the total Of the budget Of
1875, which was in amount S4,075.919 We
will compare the latter. formal estimate as
made by the Council in ordinance No. 1881,
of January 12 1875, with this estimate OF MIR.
Brown, called the ''new budget.
! Mr., Browns first item is for the Depart
ment of Improvements, to which he allows
$500, 600 for 1876. against $3l4,536 for 1873.
This reduction is feasible. He reduces the
expenses of the Department of Water Works
from S13S, $50 to $125,0OO. Ii no accident
happens to reservoir, engines or pipes OF
the Water Works, if the wages Of laborers are
cut down, if repairs Of public buildings are
few and small, if there is no increase in the
requirements for the insane or for hospitals,
it is possible that the Administrator OF this
Department may effect saving OF $4,000
without detriment to the city.
In the Department of Police the proposed
reduction is from S53, $50 to $4,000. 1t is
proposed to run the Department of Commerce
for S25, 900 instead of 500, 500. The Depart
ment of Finance is to be cut down to the ex-
tent Of $l40O, and Mr.. Browns own Depart
ment is to be run for SIS, 900 instead of ST.
OOO Assessment Of city property for city
taxes having been assumed by the State, the
budget estimate s2S, 100, for 1875, is to be re-
duced for 1876 to 5000, very considerable
item.
The Mayors Office, (not including the
Mayors salary, is to be cut down from So, 800
to So, 500 Expenses on account of the City
Hall buildings will be slightly increased, and
those Of the City Council will remain as
now. Mr. Brown proposes to cut down the
printing allowance from $40, 500 to even $10,
900. For making out tax bills for 1875 the
Council allowed S13, $50, but the allowance
for 1875 is to be reduced to $4,000. The
City Attorneys department is to be reduced
from $11, 900 to $4,000, but who is to lose the
odd $4,000 is not stated. The salaries Of the
Mayor and Administrators for 1875 were to
be covered with $40, 500. while the figures
before us for 1876 make the allowance $49, 500,
probably the result of an accidental tail being
appended to cipher. The charter allows no
increase, and the customs prevalent among
incumbents of official positions, give little
room to expect voluntary decrease. To the
Board of Health Mr.. Browns budget allows
S12 900, against $4,000 set down for 1875. The
city's coroners are still provided for to the
extent of $4,000 Tha allowance. for judg-
ments is increased from $4,000 to $4,000.
The orphans allowance of $4,000 remains
unchanged. The allowance for lighting the
city is increased from Sl55. 900 to Sl6O. 1000,
and the allowance to the Fire Department is
increased from S16S, 400 to $17I,000.
For criminal justice the budget for 1875
allowed S121, 700, and the proposed budget
allows S158, 200.
The leading feature of the new budget is
the reduction in expenditure on city debt &C
count from 81, $685. 600 to 100000. The city
debt was, Jan. l, 1876, $50, 246, $50 in bonds,
$3.50, $50 certifed-total S22,S12, 1870, calling
for yearly interest to the amount OF S1.465,-
10. Instead Of paying this interest which
would alone call for nearly one and one-ifth
of one per cent tax on s125, 100000, the new
budget allots $500 900 to bs expended under
the Premium Bond Plan, which, as we have
heretofore suggested, may require the con-
sent of the General Assembly.
1t is estimated in the Brown budget that
the cost of police is to be in 1876 only $780,
600, against $500 900 for 1875, but this being
a matter over which the Council has no con-
troll it may bs taken merely as an expression
OF opinion as to what an efficient police force
ought to cost when appointed and governed
by city authority. In like manner the allow
ance for public schools is reduced from $780,
600 to $3.50, 900, while it is not competent for
the city, under their present charter, to state
the rate of the school tax or fix the sum to
be raised. The budget of 1875 calls for
sl33, 1873 on account Of the drainage tax, an
item omitted in the projected new budget.
The Park tax calls for S149, 12l more, like
wise omitted by Mr.. Brown.
This cursory analysis and comparison Will
suffice to show that the proposed reductions
are contingent upon future State legislation
which shall so change the charter and statutes
as to enable the Council to get through
1876 with expenditures eighteen hundred
thousand dollars less than their own budget OF
January 70, 1875. Whether the Radical Sen
ate will conceds and the Radical Executive
will approve such new legislation remains to
be seen. fought to be insisted upon most