Daily Republican., 1881-01-22
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CITY Council Fiscal Year

After mature reflection upon the part
OF the people in References 70 the pSopo-
sition pending rbeiSre the City Council
to,paake the fscsl year commence on the
drst day of July in one year and END
on the last day of June the next year,
it is impressed on our minds that they
would prefer that the present COM
msncement and ending of the fiscal
year should remain unchanged. A
fiscal year that embraces fractions OF
two years is always liable to create
more or less confusion, many not know
ing what the figures 1882 mean. II
seems more natural and business Ike
that a new year should always com
mence on the first day of January and
close on the 31st day of December.
But we sre told that by the present
ending and beginning Of the year the
finances Of the city are disar:aAesd-
that the taxes are not paid in until
after the first Of July, and that in con-
sequence, for about the first six months
of the year, the city has no money
either to meet the current expenses or
with which to make any new improve
ments. These complaints under the
present management are probably well
founded, but there is 10 reason why
snch a system should be adhered to
when it is found that it does not work
we'll. II seems to us that it is easier to
make the collection Of the taxes to suit
the fiscal year Of the City Council in
stead of making the fiscal year com
mence and end to suit the payment of
the taxes. We are confident that the
plan proposed by the City Couacil 10
collect six months taxes and TO change
the commencement of the year to July
would lead to almost inextricabls con.
fusion. Besides this it savors little
of sharp plan to pay OF the floating
debt Of the city, which is said to foot
up to SONS $4,000.
Viewing the subject in al it's aspect:
and phases IL will not be 80 impossible
as 1t might seem to have the taxes coin
ing in gradually all along from the
commencement OF the present fiscal
year. There would seem no good and
valid reason why the estimates and
appropriations cannot be made for next
year, and the duplicates made out all
ready for the collection OF the tax by
the first Of February just az easily as
by the first of July. Under this plan
Mr.. Rodney's proposition to commence
collecting the taxes for the fiscal year
in February would appear entirely fea,
sibls- 1t has besn shown that it will
take about $l25, 900 besides the city
revenue to run the city from the first
ef January up to the first Of July. Mr..
Rodney, as we understand II, would
offer inducements to the tax payers to
pay in that amount Of taxes by allow.
ing them a rebate of ten per cent. in
February, nine in March, eight in
April, seven in May and six in June
This plan would bring in the taxes be-
fore instead of after the first Of July,
and enable the city to meet its current
expenses without resort to borrowing
from the banks but even should the
city be driven to borrow, it would be
paid by the appropriations Of the then
present fiscal year instead of depend.
ing prospectively on the next year, aB
was formerly TIE case. By making the
estimates for the ensuing year in Sep.
tem5er, or even in October, instead oil
in November, as is usual, the taxes
could easily be levisd and duplicated
in time to be made available in the fol
LOWING February. Under this Visw o
the case then we would suggest that the
City Council consider the propriety o
having suitable and needed laws pass
ed to facilitate the levyipg and collect
ing Of city taxes, commencing in Feb
ruary, as proposed by Mr.. Rodney, anC
allow the fiscal year Of the City Coun
ell to remain as it now Is, and as
should always be, commencing on tn
first Of January.
THERE ARE ONLY two days left II