The Saint Paul globe., 1903-11-10
BUDGET REDUCES
49, TAX LEVY 3 MILLS
: acontinued From First Page.

L T
common council, and provided the esti-
mated unexpended balances are on hand
Jan. /. the reduction in the rate of tax
alton for city revenue for 1904 would be
The item unexpended balances in the
.recapitulation represents 100000 in the
school accommodation account, 100000
In the bridge fund, and $4,000 in the
sewer account of the general fund, and
a further balance of $4,000 from this
years bridge fund, and 100000 from the
general fund, representing the amount or
ceiptse over and above the estinbte for
this year together with other balances In
the. various accounts, which, according to
the charter, must be deducted from the
total estimate. OF course, these figures
are estimates only, and cannot be verified
until the close Of the year.
/ have also been formally requested by
the water board to place in this estimate
consumed through the fire hydrants, and
by the armory board, an amount suffi-
cient for the completion of the armory.
Both being important items. have
honorable body to take up when in ses-
sion.
Used the Pruning Knife.
In many ways the budget for 1904,
as compiled by Mr.. Betz, is a remark
able document, for there is hardly a
fund.- outside of those fixed by the
charter, to which the comptroller has
applied the pruning knife.
In the matter of interest, there is an
Increase this year of trifie over $4,000,
likewise one of $4,000 for the n1ainte-
nance of sinking fund, but both Of
these increases are materially offset by
the wiping out of the redemption fund
for which $4,000 was required last
year.
In all, $133,5405O in bonds will fall
due this year, and to satisfy them Mr.
Betz recommends refundment OF
about $4,000 of the amount and the
payment of the balance through the
medium of the sinking fund. By a
law passed by the last legislature, a
tax of one-half mill is made mandatory
in aid of the sinking fund. Last year
100000 worth of bonds were refunded.
For lighting the streets there is
decrease of $3.50. Last year over
$1S5000 was needed for this purpose,
but cheaper light has permitted cut,
and this in the face of the fact that
Phalen park has been added. Over
$4,000 will be required to illuminate
this resort.
The board of school inspectors at it's
last meeting figured that $716,623 would
be ample for the conduct of the schools
next year, but Comptroller Betz has
figured otherwise, and places the
amount at $3.50 Even this amount
is a reduction of $4,000 below what
was allowed by the council last year
One Tower Enough for Workhouse.
The workhouse board will not be
able to add another tower this year to
the institution over which 1t has con-
troll. Mr.. Betz has evidently figured
that towers are superfiuous and has
cut the regular appropriation of $25,-
900 to $4,000.
One of the big cuts is in the bridge
fund which is $49,500 less than it was
a year ago. City salaries are Topped to
the extent of $4,000, while the judgment
fund, which last year amounted to
$15,080,3is $2,500 less this time. The
public library fund is cut s1,S00. This
is due to the fact that there are no
heavy improvements to be made this
year.
Fhe big fund is what is known as the
general fund and to this Mr.. BetZ has
applied the pruning knife to the ex-
tent of $38, 100. OF all the funds this
perhaps is the most interesting, for
there is credited against it everything
in the miscellaneous line.
1.-Two things that help in reducing
the levy this year are the 100000
worth Of city improvement bonds re-
Gently sold by the city and which have
been credited to the several funds,
and the fact that the miscellaneous re-
ceipts will be greater this time than
last. last year these receipts were
figured at $3S0,000, while this time it
is expected that they will reach $420,-
600. New saloons alone aid the in
crease to the extent Of $4,000.
May Swell Total to $3,ooo,ooo.
Though Comptroller Betz figures that
81, 5,300s1will be ample for next year,
the conference committee and the two
council bodies have in view items that
will swell this amount materially, pos
siblyi bringing it up to an even 49,
100000.
Yesterday claims against the city to
an extent of nearly $150,000 were filed.
One of these was an advance notice
from the water board that it would
like about $4,000 of nearly 100000
unpaid fire hydrant water rents, and
another was a communication from the
civic league that it would like to be
remembered to the extent of about
$4,000 for ward Fairgrounds. Assem-
blyran Van Slyke said that he would
ask for $4,000 as the nucleus of
fund for the establishment of ZOO
logical garden.
from for an appropriation for some
needed improvement and the members
of the council are expected to supple
ment these with items Of their own
such as bridges, sewers, street inter-
sections and other Improvements.
The committee yesterday did not at
tempt to discuss the budget as pre-
sented to them by City Comptroller
Betz, but adjourned until Wednesday
afternoon when it will be considered in
detail.
One of the new items this time which
will likely provoke some discussion is
an appropriation of $3,100 for the police
pension fund. This fund was created
by the last legislature.
Yesterday the armory board gave
notice that 1t would ask for an appro-
priation of $47,417 to aid In finishing
the new armory. The board says this
will not finish the building, but only
complete it as far as construction is
concerned. The sum Of $4,000 will be
necessary for furnishing and this, the
board says, the national guard will pay