Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-08-16
ABOUT THE CITY FINANCES
An Analysts of the Condition Of the
Various City Funds Under
the New Levy.
The City Fathers Will Have Diff
cult Task to Make Both Ends
Meet This Year.

At the last meeting of the city coun-
Gil an ordinance was passed, which is
published in another column of this
issue of The TRIBUNE, distributing the
levy Of 10 mills, made on the assessed
valuation of this city, to the various
funds. The city clerk made an estimate
to guide the council, showing the sums
required in each department for the
coming year. His figures were based on
the cost Of the several departments for
the last year, where no more definite
means Of estimating the sums required
could be obtained. In estimating the
sum which will be produced by the levy
the round figures of S6,OO0,O00 have been
taken as the valuation of the city. 1t
is probably a little high. The
exact figures of the city valuation
exclusive of the railroad valuation is
S5,S72, 900. The railroad valuation is
fixed by the state board and is not yet
announced, but it will not be likely to
be over $4,000, which would bring the
total up to S5,912,O00. The larger sum
of S6,OO0,000 has been taken for easy
figuring and in consequence the revenue
to be derived from the tax levy as given
below is in each case slightly more than
will be actually received. On the other
hand the estimate of the probable eX
penses for the several departments is a
very moderate one. A perusal Of the
city clerks quarterly report, published
in another column, will show that unless
more stringent economies or retrench
ments are pracriced in the quarters to
come the expenses will overrun the esti-
mates III most instances. The follow
ing figures show the amounts estimated
to be required in the various funds and
the amounts which the levy will pro
duce:
Fire Department Estimated expense,
S7,GO2O4 Levy | "A mills will produce
$500.
Police Department-Es ex-
pense, $14,46S,92. Levy "A mills will
produce 81 800 plus estimated proper
ton of licenses etc, $500. Total,
Sl4,355
Street Fund-Estimated expense, s3.-
4GG19. Levy = mill will produce $1,000.
Hydrant Rental Fund--Estimated ex-
pense, 516,S9O. Levy \, mills will pro-
duce $4,000.
Vaeria Public Library Fund--esti-
mated expense, $1,000. Interest fund
on bonds, estimated expense $4,000.
Park fund, estimated expense 5000. A
levy of . mills is made for these three
funds, which will produce tho full
amount for the fret two items which are
mandatory and 81, 800 for the park fund.
Contingent Fund-Including estimat
ed expenses as follows: Mayors pay roll,
SG,9lO; health department, 81 ,499; city
scales, $40; city pound, 5000; engineers
Office, S3,l70; miscellaneous cash ex-
penses, SlS2. Total expense, $4,000
Levy of | mill will produce $4,000, plus
proportion of licenses etc, 81 800. Total
Sl3,50O
General fund including estimated ex
penses, as follows: Engineers depart
ment supplies, S444 81; health depart
ment, $40; city scales, $50; pound mas
ter, $40; interest on general fund war
rants, $1,000; general expenses, $1,000
Also bridge fund, estimated expense
S1,4G9. Also interest on special improve
ment fund warrants, estimated expense
S6lS. For these three purposes levy o
two mills is made which will produce fo
the general fund, 39,Jl3; for the bridge
fund, l,4G9, and for interest on specia
fund warrants, SGl5
Sinking FUND.-. Estimated expense
$500. Levy Of "a mill will produc
$1,000
On the basis Of last years expenses be
/, = = hs ph
estimates being correct the followln
would be the Deficiencies in the varou
funds this year: Fire department
street fund, $4GGl9; hydrant renta
1880: park fund, 81 800; general funt
Sl.54l.82. Total, 81 l,Gl397 In additio
TO this deficiency there will be an e.
penae of about $4,000 to pay for III
paying Of intersections Of streets on Cei
trai avenue, which must be added to th
deficiency in the general fund, and WI
bring the total deficit il revenue up
S23,Gl397
In the above estimates the revenue
of the city police court fines, city scale
and all other sources except license
have been estimated at the sums pr
duced last year. In the case OF !icens
the estimate has been increased
about $1,000 to cover the increase in Il
license ordinance. The miscellaneo1
sources of income are divided betwet
the police fund and the contingent fur
as given above.
It will be readily seen by the foreg
ing figures that the city fathers ha
rather tough problem in finance befo
them to solve if the city is to keep fro
increasing it's debt during the next fist
year. -
Persona Non Grata.