Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-30
Auditor ReIser Informs Council of
Intention to Comply With Law
NEEDSA DIFFERENTMETHO
statute Provides That Auditor Way
Refuse 10 Issue Warrant When
Debt Limit IL Exceeded

City Auditor Reiser In comrhuh'o"'
tlon addressed 10 the Council when
was read at last evenings meeting
calls attention to the provisions OF a
certain law pertaining TO the Issuance
of warrants beyond the lawful debt
limit OF the city, which, he says, have
never been lived up to. The commune
cation. which was afterwards referred
TO the finance and laws committees,
reads as follows;
Il beg leave TO inform your honorable
body Of my intention 10 comply with
the provisions OF title s OF the revised
statutes Of Utah, which require that
the city auditor shall endorse upon
every bond, warrant or other evidence
Of debt issued by him. certificate stat.
ing that the same Is within the laWtui
debt limit OF the city. and Is Issued ac-
cording TO law.
This statute was enacted In the year
1896, but has never been complied with
by the auditing officer OF the city, owing
as understand. to the impression mat
the law was not meant TO apply to war
rants which could be paid at any time
By the treasurer, but only 10 those
which were issued when there were no
funds available for immediate payment.
A careful perusal Of the law and con-
sultation with the city attorney con-
WINGED me beyond question that the
auditor has no alternative but to place
the certificate upon every warrant Is
sued by him, regardless Of the Condl-
lions under which the same may be
drawn. / have. therefore, decided TO
adopt this course for the future COM
menclng with the first day OF July
In complying with this statute, the
auditor will be compelled to refuse TO
issue a warrant for any appropriation
which exceeds the debt limit, or which
proves to be contrary TO law II VIII,
also. be necessary 10 adopt a different
method than has been In vogue here
tofore, OF drawing upon the funds in
the custody Of the city treasurer
'"rhe moneys raised by the annual
tax levy for general purposes which
have hitherto been placed into one gen.
eral fund. will have TO be divided and
separate funds maintained for that pOr-
ton OF the taxes levied for street, wa
ter and sewer purposes, which can only
be legally drawn upon for the purposes
for which they were levied All ex-
pendtures Of the city for which special
funds are not provided by statute, VIII
have to be paid out Of that portion OF
the taxes levied for contingent eX-
benses, which under the law Is limited
to Ave mills on the dollar.
I'm the matter Of sewer extensions,
construction Of payements. etc, for
which special taxes are assessed against
abutting property, II will be necessary
to keep a more accurate account OF
each extension, and TO limit the expen-
diture in each instance TO the amount
Of the tax. except In cases whore the
city agrees to pay a portion of the cost
cut Of the general fund. In the con-
struction Of sidewalk pavements. the
ordinance requires that. where the tax
exceeds the cost the surplus shall be
returned TO the narties from whom the
tax was collected.
ITO enable the auditor to determine
upon which fund a warrant Is 20 be
drawn, have requested the various de-
partments 10 submit with each voucher
and payroll. presented TO this Office, a
statement showing the account or ac-
counts TO which the same is 20 be
charged, and am pleased TO state that
the departments are very generally
complying with the request.
AN estimate OF the amount OF reye-
nue. required 10 be raised for street, wa
ter and sewer purposes by the annual
levy, will be submitted to your honor
able body at your next session. the
amounts not having been separately
stated in the general estimate submit
ted on the 9Th instant"