The daily gazette., 1883-05-09
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wILMINGToN, WEDNESDAY. MAY Q.
City Financea.

At meeting of City Council, last even
ing, the Finance Committee submitted its
estimate of municipal expenses for the
next fiscal year, aud as the appropriations
are not only based upon but closely adhere
TO these estimates the figures presented are
interesting items to the payers.
By reference to the estimates, which are
published elsewhere,it will be seen that they
aggregate $493, ,647, which amount, after
deducting the S45, 900 applicable to the sink
ing fund and redemption of loans, leaves
S447, ,747 to be applied to the payment of in
terest and other current expenses, against
1859, ,404 appropriated for the same pur-
poses last year. This is an increase OF
SIS, ,443.
The largest item Of increase is the appro-
priation for public schools, which is ,sti-
mated at 100000, against an appropriation
of $4,000 last year. These figures will
doubtless be largely reduced upon the pas
sage of the appropriation ordinance, as there
is no necessity for the expenditure of any
such sum upon the public schools next year
Salaries also go up from $50, 600 to SOL 900,
to accord with the regulations provided by
the new city charter, which increase official
salaries and require all fees to be covered
into the city treasury.
1t will be observed that Notwithstanding
the law creating a Water Commission the
Finance Committee has estimated for an ap-
preparation for the water department in the
usual manner. However, this will, make no
in ha mol
appropriation will be required If the depart
ment passes into the control of the Commits
sion, the city will also lose the revenues
arising from water rents, aud will not be re-
quired to meet the interest on the water de.
partment loans. SO while the transfer
will reduce the city appropriations
from $4,000 to 100000, it will
reduce the revenues to corresponding ex-
tent, and leave about an even result, as the
department at present does not more than
meet operating expenses and the interest Oh
the debt its establishment created.
A careful examination of the estimate oi
the Finance Committee as presented to
Council last night, fails to show how it can
be safely pared down more than $50 900
$4,000 on the item for public schools and
$4,000 on the others. This would reduce
the total of the appropriations to $463, ,647.
Under the system of turning all fees into
the city treasury, the revenues for the year,
exclusive of taxes, ought to amount to
Sl20, 900, which would leave a balance of
S343, ,647 to be raised by general taxation
On this basis, and a city assessment of
S25,000,000, it would require tax
rate of Sl.40 cents on the hundred
dollars, (Which would raise 1885,, ,0OO)
to barely meet these approprla-
tions, without taking into consideration the
amount lost in errors and commissions. II
the city assessment exceedes S25, 900 900
then there will be ample margin on tax
rate of LAO, but it will require the best
financial management to keep it al
these figures. The present tax rate
is Sl.32 IN the hundred dollars
The patient tax. payers, therefore, in read
ing the figures presented by the Financ,
Committee, can readily see that even tn,
reform administration" they elected ii
June last will not prevent an increase Of
taxation, but that they will have to pu
their hands in their pockets and pay roundIy
for the "model'' municipal government tina
promised so much and has accomplished 81
little.