The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-28
TO PUZZLE OVER THE BUDGET.
IMPORTANT WORK FOR COUNCIL
DURING DECEMBER.

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Money Wanted for a Number of New
improvements With Practically
the Same Revenue to Draw Upon.
House Drainage and Electric
Lighting TO he Figured In-Quar-
antine improvements Also Want
ed-Thc Departments Under the
Commissions Nearly All Want In
creases for ImprOvcments-The
City's Income Not Likely to BE
Greatly Increased During the Com
ing Year.
The important work of making up the
city budget for 1898 win have to be ac-
complished by council during 1897. The
aldermen are likely to find it by far the
knottiest problem they have yet tackled.
Besides the usual and ordinary apprcpri-
atoms, there are several matters of an
extraordinary nature which will have to
be cared for.
The house drainage work will necessi-
tate increased expenditures in several di-
rections. Il the note plan is put into eff
feet the burden win not prove heavy and
the notes for house drainage will just
about take the place of the notes for the
new water works, the last one of which
was paid this year. The water depart
ment has asked for an appropriation of
s14,520 for new water mains ana in view
of the house drainage work, 1T is espe-
cially important that all sections of the
city should be provided with water.
If the plan of a municipal electric light
ing plant is decided upon, as seems very
likely, there will be another extraord-
nary expenditure to be provided for
though, as in the case of house drainage
it is likely that this improvement will
also be provided for with notes. The city
has a good-sized pile of notes, however
coming due next year for street opening,
and. as it also proposes to continue the
work of opening streets, the approprla-
ton for this purpose will have to be a
large one probably not less than $4,000.
The opening of River street still hangs in
the balance the chief difficulty being the
cost Of the improvement.
The commissions have demanded in the
neighborhood of 100000 from the city for
the departments in their care. Every de-
partment has asked for more than it re-
ceived the present year. Each has inn
provements and additions which it wishes
TO make. The police department wants to
build a new station house, the fire depart
ment wants to extend its service with new
hose houses, the park, and tree commits
sion wish to improve Bay street park, and
the other departments have minor i'm
provements in view The public works
commissioner asks for $14S, 20405, the police
commission for $91 us, the fire commits
cfn ha n,tn aor1 gfy1Hg ssifaF1
for $35,S67, and the park and tree com
mission for $25 $50. The council may APP
prove of some of the Improvements sug-
gested, but the probability is that most
of these departments will be asked to get
along on the same money they received
for the present year.
In the departments not under commits
sions, improvements are also wanted.
Health Officer LeHardy wants a floating
disinfecting plant for the quarantine sta
ton. The harbor committee will also re-
commend an extension of the wharves at
the station.
The street and lane committee will
probably recommend the paving of Dray-
ton street with asphalt and of Bull street
south of the park with Augusta gravel.
These improvements will doubtless con-
stitute the chief paving improvements,
but there will doubtless be other minor
improvements. This viii require a con-
otNtA db4S hppIOpEldliOtls from @oVVJU 10
$4,000.
The city has certain fixed charges that
must be provided for, whether improve
ments are made or not. These are the
sinking fund, $4,000 annually, and the in
terest on the bonded debt, about $4,000.
Then there are salaries, about $35, 000 and
the various other items which go to the
keeping of city which must be provided
for Altogether, the aldermen will have
no picnic in providing for all these ex-
penditures, there is no prospect of a
large increase in revenue The city's in
come for 1898 may slightly exceed that of
the present year, owing TO the work of the
board of tax assessors. Considerable
property east of the Savannah Florida and
Western railway may also be brought I'M
der taxation, owing to public improve
ments which have been made in that sec.
ton. No increased revenue is expected
from license taxes, and altogether, there
is no prospect of any large increase in
the revenue from any source Conse-
quently, the aldermen will have to do some
close figuring during the month of De-
cemebr on the budget for the coming year.
PERSONATED AN OFFICER.