The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-14

NANCE COMMITTEE PRESENTS A
VERY FULL REPoRT-sCHEME
TO REFUND CITY BONDS.
An adjourned meeting of the CITY
Council was held last night. All of the
members were present except Messrs.
Bachman, Coleman and Murray.
The most important subject under con-
sderation was the report from the finance
committee on appropriations and sala-
res. Mr.. Fox, from that committee, sub.
United the report, which was adopted in
full. There was some discussion alonu
the lines of economy, Messrs Buckner
and Coulbourn both urging the import
ance of economy and signifying their will.
lingness to stand by the finance commit
tee in the effort to maintain the city's
credit. The following is the report of
the finance committee on the general
state of the finances, and e list of the ap-
preparations made; also the list of sali-
ries to ne paid city officers:
O the Common Council for the CITY of
Roanoke.
The committee on finance to whom was
referred the annual report of the city au-
ditor, making certain recommendations
mayors message calling attention to the
financial condition of the city, it's re.
sources, probable expenditures, and the
necessity of exercising economy along
all lines of the city government, beg leave
TO report that they have taken the mat
ter under consideration, and report here.
with proposed ordinance, appropriatipp
the revenue of the city for the fiscal wear
ending June Both, 1898, which we recon-
mend shall he adopted.
The committen has gone over the linan-
cial statements.0f the city with consider.
able care; AID has taken into considers.-
tl0n an circumstances surrounding or
affecting the collecting and disbursing of
the public revenue, and In connection
with the ordinance making appropria-
tous, beg to call the attention of the
Council to the following general state
ments: -
The total receipts for the last fiscal
year W ere $206, 062. 40. The total exuend-
lures for all purposes, including
%, % of outstanding warrants paid,
were Sl35. 7S0.45, leaving cash balance
ON hand July l, 1897, of s71, 1897.
AS to the estimated resources for the
present fsca' year, to this subject the
committee gave considerable attention.
The report of the city auditor estimates
O.U &.
the committee in going over the various
items, has scaled them down until the
total resources as estimated by the COM
mlttee, which we believe to be absolutely
available, amounts in the total to S165. 5a3.
therefore, the committee concluded
thaU within this sum the appropriations
must come, so that they would not in any
case exceed the estimated revenue. The
report OF the city auditor, based on the
expenditures last year and on estimates
furnished by certain OF the departments,
puts down the estimated requirements at
%loi,oUo.o4. The committee has also
gone over these items Carefully, and con-
sidered each of them in connection with
the public welfare and general good Of the
city government, and found it necessary
to scale every iteui except such MS were
absolutely fixed beyond the control of the
Council ut this time. Five of these fixed
charges are the largest, and we quote
them here In detail, in order that the
Council may understand the manifest
reasons for scaling those appropriations
ne regarded as fixed charges. Interest
IS $40 .0OO; sinking fund for three years.
$24 4SO; sewer bond. account, so, 3O1. Us;
school bond account, SID, 760, and one
year bonds, which ought to be taken care
OF on:March 1st, $12.4O0, making total
OF SlOS ,94l.65. The committees total
appropriation list is Sl65, 50SS4. Thus it
Will te seen that OILY S56, 587. 10 is left
TO be distributed among ali of the other
appropriations, such as salaries, police,
lights' hre, water, commissions, health,
p@upers, criminal charges. and the like
Inc committee does not undertake to say
that the amounts apportioned nv IL to
these latter charges will in all cases be
sufficient for the entire year, but it hopes
by an economical policy on the part of
the council and the various departments
Cnat our expenditures may be considera-
bly, reduced
we especially commend the recommen-
dation of the mayor that strict economy
be used in expanding the citv's money,
and that the small details be carefully
looked after; that no expenditure be made
that can be dispensed with consistent
with the public welfare; and we further
solicit the united effort of the Council, it,
committees and every department of the
citT government to cid in economy, to
the END that the city may !be soon put on
an independent financial basis. anf, main
tain n vigorous policy towards liouidat-
Ing its bonded indebtedness. With these
explanations and remarks, the committee
submits the ordinance making appropri
atlons, for the consideration of Council.
Following is the appropriations:
Criminal charges, $1,000; ele, tions
SOD: fire, So, 500; insurance, $3.50; inter
est $4S, 900; Jail, 81, 800; lights. 81 500;
police, 81. 700; paupers. 81 900; street re-
pairs, $1,000; street cleaning, 5000; sta.
tionery and printing, 1900; salaries,
1900; sinking fund, SEA, 4SO; health,
81 900; water, $4,000; public property.
SSu0; sewer repairs, SEQ; sewer bonds,
S0. 3Ol .Gl: street hands S1QG 30. ..al,.A,si