The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-15
WILL HAVE TO BORROW
DEMOCRATS AFRAID TO INCREASE
CITY APPROPRIATIONS.
The Ordinances Introduced Last
Night-PrOvisiOn for Garbage Haul
ing-Phoenix Ordinance.

and city controller relative to the appro-
priations for 1897. The Council asked
to appropriate a total of 1919, 230. 43. This
amount is $4,000 more than the estimates
published Sunday morning in detail. The
additional $4,000 is TO pay for garbage col
lections. Accompanying the report of the
controller giving estimates of the money
that will be necessary to pay the citys
running expenses for 1897, Mayor Taggart
sent a lengthy communication explaining
why it will take $50, 527.36 more next year
than for 1896 and advising that tax levy
of 60 cents on the 500 and so cents on each
poll be made. The Mayors communication
also purports to show where the money is
to come from. Following is the Mayors
communication:
ION Aug. rs the heads of the different de-
partments of the city met, as required by
Section so of the city charter and dis
cussed the subject of taxation for the year
1897 and submitted estimates of the amount
of money necessary for the payment of
These estimates have received the very
careful attention of the controller and
various boards since that time. ] submit
herewith the report of the controller, show
ing the estimates as revised for the ensuing
Ham of sr sS viii fP boz eeey for the
maintenance of the various departments
next year.
Although the sum of $50 527 SO more is to
be appropriated this year than last, desire
to call your attention to the following spe-
cifc items of increase, which are deemed
necessary for the public welfare
For collection and delivery of gar
bage Observation-Disclosures. .............S 30, 600
For electric lights (additionaD. ....... 1O, 900
For water (additionaD .................. 5000
For cleaning improved streets (addi-
tional-made necessary by the com
pletion of large number of newly
improved streets ...:.............:.:. 5000
For repairing improved streets (addi-'
tional-made necessary by the ex-
piraton of guaranteeS) .............. 5000
For repairs to Pogue's run............ 5000
For electric-light plant, City Hospital. 1000
For increase in fire force account
of new houses and apparatus (sala-
Expense of October election, 1S97..... 5000
Total .SSi, S25
Il concur in the estimates as revised by
the controller and recommend that the
amounts specified be appropriated. l also
concur in his recommendation that the tax
levy be fixed at 60 cents on the 800 and so
cents on each poll. 1t is estimated that this
levy will produce gross revenue from tax
alton of 1864, 267.25. From this must be de-
Quoted the sum of $10S29.37 for the fire.
mems pension fund, provided by law
leaving the net amount to be received $653,-
437Ss Estimating the miscellaneous re-
ceipts at 900 (Which is approximately
the average for several years pasD, the
amount to be received next year would be
SS93. 437. IS. To this should be added the bal
ance OH hand Jan. l, which will provide suf-
ficient revenue to pay the appropriations
While the city has been growing rapidly
and the expenses necessarily increasing IN
all departments, and an appropriation Tor
the collection of garbage provided Tor
(which has been under discussion for sew
eral years., am pleased to state that with
the strictest economy we will have Suff1-
cient money to carry on the city govern
ment without an increase in the tax levy.
LIGHT ON THE MAYORS FIGURES.
1t will be observed that the Mayor as
serts that the totaL-eceipts from 6O-cent
aiT1fc will
aggregate 1898, 437. Ss, s15, 1925 less than the
total amount the Council is asked to APP
propriate To make good the disparity be-
tween estimated receipts for the ensuing
wear and the appropriations recommended,
he ingeniously asserts: ITO this should be
added the balance on hand Jan. /, which
will provide sufficient revenue to pay the
carefully avoids making any estimate OF
what the balance on hands JAN. next
will be, and the Council is left to infer 1t
will eoualize the disparity. Not very long
ago, while the administra ton was troubled
to find some method of untang1ng the mud
die at the City Hospital brought about by
underestimate and insufficient approprla-
tions Controller Johnson was very much
alarmed less the balance on hand at Che end
of the year would not exceed $1,000 or S10,-
600. A source of revenue on which 1t was
possible for the city to rely at the end of
ministration the unexDended ball
ances from the years appropriations. I'm
different departments at the end of the
year reverts back to the city treasury. Jan.
/ 1896 the amount that reverted to the city
through this plan was S5l, 203,92. During
the present year the council has been asked
time and again to make transfers of funds
from those for which they We're originally
appropriated. to make good some deficit in
AUTHORIZATIONS, as in the City Hospital case.
Mr. Woody and other Republicans in the
Council have recognized that these trans
fers amounted virtually to new appropri-
atoms and have made futile attempts to
head them off. The administration has still
three months and a half in which to alb
sorb the present years appropriations. and
from present indications it is appar-
ent that the uneXpended balances will
fall far short of those of last year, SO that
it is impossible TO form an accurate esti-
mate of what balance will he on hand Jan.
l next.
Another thing of considerable significance
is the fact that Mayor Taggart has esti-
ated that the receipts from a 60-cent levy
will be 1864, 267. %, in the gross. AS a mat
ter of fact it will likely fall far short of
that, al everybody knows that the taxes are
never paid in full In his report submitted
to the Council Jan. /. 1896. Controller john
son shows that the total receipts from
taxes for 1898 were S64S, 43017 SIS. SS7. 0S less
than the Mayor says it is estimated will
be received from that source next year.
The trouble is that the Mayor has pro-
ceeded on the theory that the taxes will be
fully paid. and he has fixed his estimate
at the highest amount that could be col
lected not taking into account Delinquent
cies and noncoilectihle taxes