The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-11
MAY NEED ANOTHER $4,000.
CrFY's INDEBTEDNESS GREATER
THAN N WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

Nearly All OF the Budget Appropri-
ntiOns 0veFdrawn Chairman
Thomas of the FInance-Csmnittee
OF Council Trying to Get at the
status of the City's Finances.
Alderman D. r. Thomas, chairman OF
the finance committee of Council, was asked
Yesterday whether the city will have TO
borrow more than the $4,000 already bor-
owed, in order to run il the balance Of
The year. The status of the city's finan-
.ial affairs is not perfectly understood Just
at present, due in a measure to the fact
mai there have been three different chair
men of the finance committee during the
year, and things are slightly out of joint
For the reason that there IS a consid-
cradle amount of money to collect from
various sources said Alderman Thomas
1T is impossible to say whether the city
will have to borrow an additional SIC, 900
or not I have urged the city marshal to
collect all outstanding claims at once, so
that we may know what to count upon
and whether we shall have to borrow
While I am not positive, still there are
reasons which cause me to believe the city
viii have to secure more money, and this
is certain unless the outstanding claims
are collected"
Alderman Thomas has only recently sue
ceeded in discovering an item which ac-
counts largely for the present condition of
the city's finances. This is part of the
amount contracted by the city two years
ago for the asphalt paving on Oglethorpe
avenue and is not the first chicken
hatched by a previous Council, that came
home to roost. The amount had not been
provided for in this years budget. The
result was il about offset the cash ball
ance of $29 1880 the city had at the be-
ginning of the year, with which the board
was expecting 10 meet some of the extra
expenditures it has been making recently
Alderman Thomas had a number Of
monthly cash balances prepared by City
Treasurer Hardee, but he did not know
that the $685. GOO claim had been paid until
after he had examined an itemized state
ment of the paying accounts. How il
capped notice is not apparent, but there
were several of the aldermen who did not
know the cash balance had been absorbed
in that way.
AZ the beginning of the year the tax or
dinance provided for an expenditure of
S7O,596.25. This amount was exceeded by
a long list of extra expenditures, which
the board was apparently intending to
partially settle with the cash on hand, or
with some source Of revenue to DE created
in some way.
There are few, if any, of the appropria
tons which have not been overdrawn.
Alderman Thomas made a comparison of
the balance of cash on hand in July of
1897 and July of the present year, after
which he Informed his fellow aldermen
that if expenditures were continued at the
pace they had been going, the city's treas
ury would be empty at the end of the year.
All of the appropriations were being over
drawn, il seemed, and the board was go
ing recklessly into debt without carefully
considering where the additional revenue
was to come from. ts
Among the appropriations overdrawn is
that for city lights. The appropriation is
$4,000, but several additional lights were
erected, running the number up to 5OO
which called for an extra $500. Then
comes the appropriation of $1,000 for police
uniforms, which was exceeded by $S09 The
fire department needed extra money, on
account of having to pay bills contracted
by former commissioners, which makes
their allowance overdrawn by $1,000 A
new engine was also purchased. Next
comes the house drainage appropriation
of $1,000, which was ovedrawn 81, 961 80 in
the early part of the year. This does not
include what may be necessary to spend
after the end of the year. The draining
of Laurel Grove cemetery cost 1900,
which was not provided for in the budget
The appropriation for the city market was
A5OO but the committee has called for
$3.50 additional
1t is likely the only department that will
be within its budget allowance is the
opening streets, which received $1,275. 03,
derived from the ground rent lots, in ad-
utflon TO its regular appropriation of $40,-
UOO This will make an aggregate of $751;
2io.03 spent in this department alone, with
possibility of its having gone beyond the
limits. When resolutions were introduced
some time ago providing for appropria-
IONS for opening streets, the question was
raised by Alderman Thomas that the
amount had been overdrawn, and it is
understood he was not until recently con-
WINGED of the fact it was within the
bounds. The appropriation of $4,000 for
paving streets was run up to SS0S1 80, but
portion Of this is to be borne by proper
~ owners. An appropriation Of s., 600 was
made last week to meet the police depart
ments pay roll. An extra $4,000 has just
been appropriated for repairs now in prog
ress at the quarantine station, but the
amount has not yet been paid by the treas
urer
The salary of the plumbing inspector
an office recently created, will cost the
city $1SO.6S. The ordinance provides that
the fee of so cents charged for inspecting
each fixture shall go to paying the salary,
nut it is understood the amount derived
VIII not be large, at least, for the present
year.
BY agreement with the bondholders, the
sinking fund commission is allowed SIG, 500
each year with which to pay off The city S
bonds and interest on them. II was the
case of another chicken coming home to
Ioost with the commission, however, as II
was due $500 from last year, which ii
called on the city to pay this year. Exten-
SlVe improvements costing $2,03S.25 were
made at the old water works plant on the
river and for which there was no provls-
ION IN the budget. The new city code is an
other extra $780,
1t seems The city was called upon to pay
%2'll17O to the City Court, which it did
not anticipate in view of the fact the
costs of that cOurf have bppn tra N efarra1