Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-12
THE CITY FINANCES.
HOW THE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE is
VIEWED, so FAR.
Considerable Work Will Be Done on the Streets
by the B. P. W.-The Gas Board Strin-
gsncy to Be Let Alone.

The action so far taken by the Coun-
ell Committee on Finance, in pro-
providing for the city expenditures for
the current year so as to give to each
department sufficient money to meet.its
absolute wants, without having to re-
sort 10 the more than doubtful expedi-
emit of watering the estimate OF receipts
out of all reason, as was done last
year, is meeting with good deal OF APP
proyal all around. There is some kick
ing among Councilmen because their
pet departments did not get some OF the
things asked for, but there Is not more
of this sort OF thing than usual. II the
ordinance is passed about as blocked
out so far, there may be q little strin-
gency this year, in some quarters, but
finances will be easier next year as a
consequence.
The total estimated revenue from all
sources this year is S425. 324. So, as
against an actual revenue OF $500, 1853. 30
last year, the increase arising partly
from an enhanced railroad valuation,
partly from the real estate improve
ments of the past year, and partly from
cash balances carried over from 1892 In
various departments. During this year
about $4,000 of city debt will
be paid off, or about $4,000
less than last year, the difference
being made through there being no
appropriation this year to take up any
of the old compromise loan, $4,000 OF
which was paid in 1892. There has
been a 81, 900 bond OF this loan at one
OF the banks fer about year, awaiting
payment, but it will be allowed to stand
over until 1894. In addition to this re-
dnction, the Water Board will pay $685.
600 on account Of new works, and the
Gas Board $4,000 on the electric light
bonds.
As intimated in the REGISTER, there
has been some serious talk OF cutting
off fines and fees, amounting to So, 900,
from the contingent fund Of the Board
of Public Works, and transferring it to
the general fund Of the city, but an
opinion has been handed in by the City
Solicitor, but not yet read before the
Committee, which is believed TO be in
opposition to this plan. The same opin-
ion is also believed to take
stand in favor OF allowing
the Gas Trustees to get along
without help from the general city
treasury, the Board having asked for an
extraordinary appropriation Of $50, 900
this year. This money could not pos
sibly be raised anyhow, it is claimed,
and the Trustees will likely be allowed
TO pay off what they can of the debt,
and pay interest on the remainder until
they are in better shape. The opinions
here referred to will likely be read at
the next session Of the Committee, they
having been prepared by request OF the
chairman, and then their exact con-
tents will be known.
Work upon the streets this season
will necessarily be somewhat restricted,
so far as new brick paving Is concerned,
but still some work OF this character
will be done. The Board will have on
paper $50, 5O9.29 of ten cent levy and
contingent fund money, which will pro-
vide for the street cleaning, sewerage
pairs and miscellaneous expenses, and
still leave a snug sum for new work.
Under the recent Interpretation OF
the law creating the ten cent
levy fund, which allows that money
to be used for paving on streets
not heretofore paved, the Board will
have considerable lee-way, and improve
ments of the streets and alleys will not
stop altogether. There will be no gem
eral fund appropriations for street i'm
provemsnts, however. This is not very
different from last year, however, when
there was but 81, 642.s3 Of general fund
improvements made, two-thirds OF it
being spent north of Jonathan's ravine.
Interest and principal of loans is what
eats up city money, as about S6O' 600 VIII
go this way this year in one way or and
another. A reduction OF the debt prin-
cipal to the tune of $500 year is a
good sign, however, and make cores
ponding reduction in interest charges.