The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-13
Sl5,473.9O DEFICIT
THE CITY GOLFERS LACK THAT
MUCH TO STAND
OFF DEBTS.
ANOTHER BOND ISSUE SUGGESTED

But il is Opposed by Alderman C. L.
johnson, WhoSuggests Economy In
stead--The Finance Committee Re-
port Many Difficulties in Getting
Statement of the CIty's Financial
Status and About $500 Deficit
when the New Board Went In-"No
Meeting--No Quorum--fOr the Second
Time.
A special meeting of the Board of Al
dermen was called for last evening to
consider city finances. Several OF the
leading Aldermen, the rain or shine
men, were there, but they were not
enough to make up quorum. And so
the matter was postponed until Septem-
Der 9th, the regular monthly meeting OF
the Board.
It was understood that the finance COM
mittee, composed of Messrs. }. d.
Boushall, NJ. H. Ivey and Charles E.
johnson, would make the following re-
port:
Condition.
''The Finance Committee beg leave to
submit the following report and recon-
mendations herewith:
We have endeavored since the
date of our assuming the office of
aldermen to secure report of the
financial status of the city. The
difficulties which we have had to over
come it is not necessary to detail here.
We are only glad even at this late day
to present the statements of the receipts
and expenditures of the city funds for
the fiscal year ending February 28th,
1885,
''By examination of the Treasurer's
report it will be seen that the balance
on hand March 1st, 1895 was $12 63,
with unpaid warrants outstanding
amounting to 1904 II, a net deficit of
$5,6S2.14 The receipts for the months
of March and April amount to g., 91959
and the disbursements amount to 81
IT'S. 90, leaving a net deficit when this
Board took charge of the city of IS, 541.-
3d. The receipts for the months of May
and June were $2,9oo11 IS, the disburse-
ments SO, 5000, making a deficit on
July LIST. 1895 of SIS, 473 80. 1t is natural
ftG expect at this season of the year that
there will be deficit in the city's inan
ces; but owing TO an order passed by the
old Board these outstanding warrants
have been largely provided for. By the
assistance Of the Commissioner of the
Sinking Fund it has been possible to pre-
vent the city's warrants from being dis
counted or hawked about the streets.
That source of relief is now exhausted
and some temporary arrangement for
payment of current expenses must be
made at once
Resources.
''By an examination of the statement
of receipts and disbursements for the
past year it will be noticed that the prin-
cipal resources Of the city are taxes,
liquor licenses and market rents.
The total available resources of the
city amount to something over
500, 900 90 while the expenses amount
to over $74, 900 90. It does not take one
long to conclude that the resources must
be increased CT the expenses curtailed
It will be noticed that the chief items of
expense are salaries of officers and po-
lice, which amount to nearly $14, 900,
street expenses $4,000, lights about
$500, fire department little over
1000, water for the city about s., 900,
miscellaneous So, 600 We may remark
here that we hope that these miscellane-
GUS items viii in future be properly
classified and charged to the proper de-
partments. This board is called upon
for large improvements in various de-
partments, more particularly we pre-
sumo upon the streets, and our worthy
street committee has already begun Wig
orous work in that direction, but it is
very clear that in order to meet even the
ordinary expenses, the resources Of the
city must be increased before any per-
manent improvements can be made, or
we shall have to expect of each depart
partment to expend its funds more judi
ciously than has heretofore been the
case.
Reports.
We shall endeavor to furnish the city
hereafter with regular reports of the
finances and of the financial transactions
of this board, believing that the same
will be highly appreciated by every citi-
zen who is interested in the city's vel
fare, and beg to apologize for being SO
tardy in presenting this our first state
ment of the condition of affairs.
Recommendations.
We would respectfully recommend
that each committee in charge of differ
ent departments of the city's business
requiring expenditures of the city's
funds, submit an estimate of the amount
which, in their economical judgment,
they think will be necessary to be used
in their department for the ensuing
year, in order that the resources may be
prorated and each department confined
within a proper limit in the wisdom OF
this board, and that all expenses belong
ing to any department shall be charged
to the account of that department We
would respectfully recommend that the
City Clerk be instructed to prepare a
uniform voucher upon which all bills
and accounts against the city shall be
presented and provided with spaces for
approval by proper committees, and des-
Ignating the department to which such