Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-21

The liabilities We're, bonds. 299, 10000
Temporary loans, 40 0O0. o.
$3s9, 5000
Coupons outstanding. si.l25oo
Mayors warrants. 2,S%M
kennebec & Franklin
r. r. Co. 100000
Due on the various
school accounts. 1910 1896,
The resources were:
Cash in treasury, .339 -
Due from cities and
towns, DI,5
From Augusta, Halo
well Il Gardiner X. X.
CO.. 1873
From State of Maine, 7S4.32 $3.50 g.
Uncollected sewer as
SeSSmentS, ,SSS SO
Tax deeds, 5959i;;
Uncolected taxes 1885
to 1898 inclusive. 25.77ls5
Incollected taxes 1897
and 1898, q, S37.i3 g., 457 II
For all practical purposes. in the light
of experience, We may reduce our re-
sources and liabilities to two items
city bonds and temporary loans, 1898, 20
Resources, nothing
The liabilities other than bonds and
temporary loans will be offset by the re
sources Of any value with little or no
margin on either side.
OF the city bonds 5000 become due July
gust %; $1,000 of the temporary loans be
ing payable on demand probably may be
paid at the option Of the city.
Fortyfive thousand five hundred dol
lars of the city debt must be paid at ma
turty and the funds must be provided
either by taxation, the issue of city
notes or by further issue of city bonds.
The last assessed valuation OF the city
was $6,y,6,S5i. this included property
which the court has decided to nave been
illegally assessed. leaving the valuation
in round numbers ST, 10000 1t will be
seen that by paying the bonds $500 al,
maturity, We may renew the notes $4,000
and keep within the legal limit Of the
city debt.
This matter should receive your early
and careful consideration. | recommend
that the subject be referred to the com
mittee on finance with Instructions to re
port at an early day.
APPROPRIATIONS,
mo money shall be paid from the
treasury unless the same be appropriated
by the city council, and upon a warrant
signed by the mayor" is the language
of the city charter.
Section 1, chapter II. city ordinances
provides as follows:
THE moneys raised and apprOpria ted for
specific purposes in the annual estimates
by the city council. other than compensa-
ton to city officers and payment of city
liabilities by reason of matured debts
and interest on the city debt, shall be eX-
pended only on the written requisition t.
the mayor by the officer or committee
having charge of such expenditure, and
the requisition shall state the reasons
therefor. that the mayor may determine
how large sum the interests of the city
require to be expended at that time. But
| the mayor shall approve no requisition in
excess of the appropriation then remain
| ing uneXpended. until the city council
| shall have made further appropriation for
! Enforce this ordinance in letter and
spirit and no appropriation could be
| overdrawn.
the very outset that he acts by authority
| of law and that no act of his will bind
the city unless that act is legal.
drawn the past e year IS, 49, This means
an increase of the debt by. this sum plus
the taxes of 1898 which will be abated be-
fore final settlement with the collector or =. Or
an aggregate increase of nearly $I0.UOU'.
| 1t may be impossible to so conouct al
fairs that every appropriation will be kept
absolutely within the original estimate,
Int the total expenditures must be KEPT
so far within the income as to leave a
clear margin to provide for taxes which
cannot be collected.
| To illustrate take an example lIolh the
| city reports
The report at the end of a certain
| year showed net gain. or eX-
| penses less than income OF S5,li- ~
| The year following taxes OF the
pnm of 4.450Cg
Showing that instead of q gain
| there had been an actual loss Or an o.,
increase Of debt of i,d5S.Z'
| And thus the farce goes on from year
| to year. Each annual report as ruie
shows a gain, commendaple snoW'l ~,
Ten years ago I stated the city debt
nroner TO be $3OS, 1927. 90. For ten years
each administration. on paper mas kept
within its income. made a gam aila ,onas
| standing in the same position nave 70
inform you that these annual gains nave
Increased the debt proper to $s39 sou, In
the same period the trust H.. funda ha aao
| GONE from SIS 500 in 1889 to S36. $50 in lS''
Thus $3S, S23Oo have been absorbed by the
exnense account in excess of income OF
an average of $3.SS230 year. A..
| In view of the public improvements INA
have been made during TINS period TINS
increa Sc sof debt may not appear excess
sive. but when We consider that me q -a a AZ
uation has been incrs sas iron, If
nt;nn from 2Da. mills to % mills and ih''
,assessment from $loi. 1881 to NO, ~, ~ ~
during the same period. IS ~ ,i hnt Tlse ~
consider whether we are tendits, TO ha,t
ia rast awhile. OF at least to move on
more slowly.
EXPENDITURES.
That the several city officers, nave m
| ,anaad 70 honestly and faithfuiiy admlh-
;s,ar The affairs of their respective de-
is.st have no DOUBT. There mas
been no plumber al the e1pi , ,nira haGa
'rhere are no large leaks, Dut tIers n.y.
,nn aud area grea. many small one
most of them so small as TO appeei1r ~ ~.
XII bat the aggregate IS u9Ha." viii
! ,aifh *
sssss app%TG ne i" p1 hes'e aharss d as
i irie high or he quantity b rfsnaSe or
more tliiam a, WI nav be found commend
your an the sS
pecialiy TO nv, ~ The departments they repre-
sent. an,,pTy
There has na, been within nn ny rr kneM!
, edge any aceountins r9 Tha pu''hl have beer
made n few nsse S Sasa merely ell e
: property. pu, ornnertv on hand. they hav,
n ios so Hfops5
out or lost. ,,;ra the auditor tt
kse2 ~ ~ a,h..n city officers are required
Under penalty to rendhr account. .
REPORTS or CITY OFFICERS
There has been unwarr nnrts s some Of +
% ne ssh W failod to make any IepoT