The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-26
THE TAX RATE THE SANE.
But The CITY Budget Will Be Reduced
100000.

Expenses Not Provided For in Last
Years Budget Run the City Treasury
Pretty Iowa Deficit OF $50, 900 to
Garry over TO Next Year-The City's
Extraordinary Expenses For 1893.
The House Drainage System to Be
Provided For Next Year.
1.-THE budget Of 1894 will show reduc-
ton Of $3.50 eco, as compared with the
budget Of 1898, 80 Mayor McDonoush said
yesterday.
THE different departments have not
yet completed their estimates, but feel
safe IN making this statement" the
mayor added. "A very simple calculation
will show how this conclusion was arrived
at We had some very extraordinary
items of expense in this years budget
which will not appear next year. For
instance, the new water-works, alone,
were put down at $4,000 in this years
budget, and, in addition 70 that, the city
spent SIS. 900 above the appropriation in
completing the works earlier than was at
first intended. That makes sl3S, 900 right
there, which can be discounted from next
years budget
SOME OF TIE BIG ITEMS.
s'Then there was the new disinfecting
plant at the quarantine station that cost
the city $4,000. Our quarantine station
is now complete, and ought 10 cost US
very little next year outside Of ordinary
running expenses. On theipolice depart
ment we expended over $4,000, in putting
ia the Gamewell system, an improvement
which has now become a necessity almost,
and which Is giving great satisfaction.
We will not have 70 include anything for
that item in the police department esti-
mate for next year.
In the fire department, the mayor
went on, we had TO put in a new register
for. alarm signals, and other minor i'm
proVements, at cost of about $3.50.
This register, without accident, should
last a score Of years at least. In the
street and lane department we had to pay
the Warren Scharp Pavement Company
10000 the balance due on the Bull street
asphalt pavement. That is settled now,
and the street and lane department will
be able TO undertake new work neXtyear.
in nearly every department the expense
has been above the ordinary this year, on
account of needed improvements or old
debts
TIE STORM COST HEAVY.
The August storm cost US a good many
thousands of dollars in repairing the dam
age TO the quarantine station, draining
the lands around the city and putting the
streets in order again. Protecting the
city against the threatened yellow fever
epidemic also cost US several thousand
dollars, These items, of course, were
not provided for in the budget Al
together the expenditures, which were not
calculated upon when this years budget
was prepared, including the extra expen-
diture of $4,000 upon the new water
works, amounted TO nearly $4,000, which
about represents the amount Of the de-
fct which the city will carry over to next
year.
After allowing for this deficit" said
the mayor. and the extra expenditures in
the departments, required by the ex-
tension of the city limits, we will be able
70 increase the budget for 1894 in the de-
partments named, by over 100000, But
for the deficit and the extra expenditures
required the reduction would amount TO
about 100000"
WON'T REDUCE THE TAX RATE.
s'Will this enable the council to make
any reduction in the city tax ratei"
Mayor McDonough was asked.
81 do not think there is any intention OF
reducing the tax rate, was the reply.
THE present rate of II per cent is not
high, in my opinion, when the fact is
taken into consideration that property is
assessed for taxation at only about IS per
cent. of its market value, certainly at not
more than so per cent at the outside. We
shall have use for every dollar
of the surplus we hope to have in
the treasury above the expenses of
the various departments The city it
must be remembered, intends "a
put in the house drainage system. This
once begun means an expenditure OF a
round half million of dollars. We will
not get out for much less. We hope tC
begin this work next year, and to do SC
viii take every dollar that we can spare
from the other departments. The house
drainage system is a growing necessity
and the sooner we begin it the better fol
the city's health"