The herald., 1897-08-27
Council Wrestling Withthe
Money Question
A DEFICIENCY OF $4,000
TT RESULT OF MAYOR shy
DER'S FRISCO TRIP
Lawful Money Bonds Are All Right.
Park Commissioners-St
Sprinkling-Notes

For the greater portion Of the time
yesterday the members of the council
finance committee, assisted by several OF
their colleagues, wrestled with the prob
lem of municipal finances, endeavorine
to SO adjust the various apportionments
that each department will be satisfied
and at the same time to keep within the
limit of revenues to be derived and thus
prevent deficit appearing at the end of
the year.
Foremost among the workers of the
committee is Councilman Toll, who has
devoted much time lately to the difficult
problem. From the corrected figures in
his possession he yesterday gave re-
capitulation of the present situa ton
which will place the involved matter in
q clear light to the general public. The
corrected and final amount of taxable
property in the city upon which the 81
rate will be collected is 1851, 112, which
will yield $5SS, ,511.1 IL revenue. An addi-
tional levy of rs cents per hundred to
provide for interest and sinking funds
will be made upon s55, ,202, ,203 of the orig
inal amount, yielding s1SS, ,0SO5O. To this
may be added $267,OOO estimated reve-
nue. from all other sources, such as
licenses, sales of water, etc, making a
grand total of 1898, ,5s1.62. Then there is
credited to a couple of the departments,
principally the library, a balance left
on hand of $7S14.SS, adding which it is
seen that the total resources of the city
will be $1,001, ,406.3S. Last year the total
amount available was $946, 663.
Thus it will be seen that there is ap-
parently $54743.SS more available this
year than last, but appearances are
sometimes deceptive. There is a little
item of between 100000 and $35,000 for
expenses incurred last year which has
been saddled off on the incoming twelve
month and will have to be provided for
1t is an illegal proceeding to thus incur
bills beyond assets and shoulder the
payment onto next years funds, but it
is done just the same. AS apportioned
in the auditors estimate the various
branches of the city government are
allowed a total of $99S, ,696.60. This, with
the 100000 alluded to, subtracted from
the total available funds, leaves short
age already of $7290.22. Added to this
must also be the probable delinquent
taxes amounting to say $1,000 or $4,000,
and it is seen that If things work as ex-
pected the city will be about 100000 shy.
On the other hand, the amount allowed
the several departments by the auditors
estimate is about 5000 less than last
year. Nearly every department shares
the decrease, the principal increase be-
ing that of the street department from
$74, 76S 65 in 1867 to $100, ,220 in 1878. In
order to make sure that every depart
ment holds down it's expenses to allow
anceS it is the intention of the committee
to send to each city official an itemiZed
statement of the appropriation for each
department of his office. He will be
obliged to open accounts in his books for
each subdivision and to the proper ac-
count charge each demand. Statements
will be required to- the council quarterly.
By this means no bills can be contracted
beyond the appropriation for that par
ticular purpose without its at once be-
ing known. Each officer will be re-
quired to hold strictly within the limits
of his appropriation, and there will be
no more saddling of one years debts
onto another. Although last year was
begun with a nominal balance of $685.,
294.63 and this year under such disad-
vantageous circumstances the commit
tee believes it can pull through and
come out square if every department is
run on a business like and economical
plan.