The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-04
Total estimated receipts for
eight months $72, ,00

The deficit at the end of the fiscal
year. eight months from now, will be
a difference between $95, SS1 and $4,000,
or approximately $24, 900.
The above figures are as near correct
as it is possible for such estimates to
be. They have been prepared after con-
Sultation with the city treasurer and
oyher city officials, and it can be ac-
cspted as absolutely certain that unless
the council takes some radical action,
there will be no possibility of greatly
improving the financial conditions dur
ing the present fiscal year.
The council should not fear to use
the pairing knife on the estimates of
expenditures prepared by some of the
city officials This is not saying tha
the expenditures called for in these es-
Inmates are exorbitant. but economy
n cans economy, and economy means
doing without things that the city
would like to have The estimates must
be cut down.
To supplement this a new license or
tinance should be passed. and great eff
aorts made to increase the revenues Of
kle city from this source. But this ac-
ton should be supplemented. 1t would
be a gross and wicked extortion to inn
pose a burdenSOme license law simply
to enable the city council to continue
its extravagant expenditures. The ex-
penses must be cut down before the
license law is passed.
The council has it in its power to
make $4,000 at least by cutting down
lie cStlIIidleS- anu increasing receipts
Here are a few suggestions as to how
it can be done:
The expenses of the street depart
ment should be limited to about $15,-
900 for the next eight months. That
would save SO, ,664.
The cost of building the pest house
could be reduced to $1,000 instead of
81 500, saving 1,500.
The services of four unnecessary en-
ployes in the sanitary department
could be dispensed with, saving 81 500
in the eight months.
The salaries of the mayor and council
men could be put back where they were
before the Hughes raise" saving ST.
600 in eight months.
An increase of 81, 500 in the license
receipts would not be too much to ex-
pect during the next eight months.
This would make a total saving of
$9.S64 in eight months. 1t is very prob
able that by cutting off an unnecessary
employe here and there. another 81, 900
could be saved without in the least Grip
pling the management of the citys af-
fairs.
The trouble is that there are too many
political jobs and CRAFTS fastened leech-
like to the city treasury. The council-
men are afraid to cut off these unneces-
sary appendages for fear of ma king en-
emies and sustaining defeat in the next
election. 1t is an unfortunate condition
of things.
The city has decided upon several ex-
past six months. $4,000 sewer was
built through the city park at public
expense; a site for a pest house was
purchased at a cost of 81, 900 and now a
pest house must be built: the purchase
and equipment of the aerial truck will
involve an expense of sc, 900. There al
ways are certain number of such ex-
penditures in the course of the year
They have been rather heavier than u.s.
ual this year.
The opinion seems to still prevail that
the reason of the present deficit is that
the tax levy has been lowered from
year to year. This is entirely erroneous
The levy for current expenses has been
II mills for the past five years. That is
the limit provided by law. The part OF
the levy which has been lowered is the
levy for special funds, such as interest
sinking, library. water rental. etc.
The levy for current expenses brings
in about 100000 a year. which is $4,000
month. The deficit has arisen simply
because the city council has beer
spending more than it received from
taxes and from fines. licenses. etc. The
fines and licenses amount to about So 00(
a month. Whenever the city pays out
more than that sum for current expen-
SeS it is running deeper into debit