The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-21
City Controller Says Councilman Sour
bier's Ordinance Means s2S,00O
Addition to City Pay Roll.
TWO PER CENT. ADDED TO LEVY
WILL BE REQUIRED, SAYS BREUNIG,
TO MEET THIS INCREASE.
City VIII BE Unable to Establish Sub
stations for Police for at Least
Another Year.

City Controller Breunie says the tax levy
of Indianapolis must be increased = per
cent, to So per cent, if Councilman Sour
bier's ordinance to increase the salaries of
the members of the fire department is
passed. The ordinance contemplates an i'm
crease of little more than $4,000 a year
i'm the annual pay roll of the fire depart
ment. instead of only $1,000 as was
thought at first. And the city controller
says the city will not have the revenue
with which to pay the increased salaries
unless the tax levy is increased at least
per cent.
Mr.. Breunig will not authorize a state
ment that he is opposed to the ordinance,
but he is opposed TO an increase in the tax
levy. In interview i'm the Journal
yesterday Mr. Breunig said it was the in
tention of the administration to lower the
tax levy for next year. If this is pos
sible. The assessment of real estate for
next year is increased about 100000 and
decrease in the levy will not decrease
the amount of taxation.
After a long conference with Chairman
Keller, of the Board of Public Safety,
yesterday afternoon Mr. Breunig gave out
the statement that the city probably will
not be able for another year at least TO
establish any sub-police stations. But other
help to the police department is being
planned. 1t cannot be told for few weeks
yet just how much money the city will
be able to expend on the police department.
The controller is now getting ready to esti-
mate the annual budget, which will go to
the Council next month, and until all the
departments report to him how much
money they will need next year he cannot
make an estimate of the amount the city
can spare for the police department outside
of the regular salary and current expense
appropriations.
Il know the city needs sub-police sta
tons. but don't see how they can be pro-
vided this year, or next year." said Mr..
Breunig. 1T is impossible just now, how
ever, to tell how much money the various
departments will need next year, and how
much money We can spend on the police
Chairman Keller is planning to lay be-
fore the Board of Public Safety in the next
few weeks plan of broadening the ca
pacfty OF the police department in a way
other than by the establishment of SUBJ
stations. This plan is to equip the station at
Alabama and Pearl streets with n light, one
horse wagon. which plan was outlined in
the Journel yesterday morning. Chairman
Keller did not make a statement to this
effect yesterday, but il is thought that he
has practically given up the idea of the city
being able for year or two to provide
funds for the establishment of sub-sta-
tiOns
Mr.. Keller and Chief Coots have been in
conference several days concerning the APP
preparation the fire department shall ask
in the budget for expenses fer next year
outside of salaries. Chief Coots stated that
though he had not decided just what the
department will ask for he thinks the bud
get for the running expenses of the de-
partment will amount to about $4,000. The
appropriation for the running expenses of
the department this year amounted TO
something over $4,000.
The Board of Safety probably will send
its estimates for appropriations for next
year to the city controller next week. The
entire budget will be made and sent to
council within three weeks. it is thought.
President Megrew, of the Board OF Public
Works. stated yesterday that it cannot be
told yet how much of an appropriation the
board will ask for next year. He said the
various funds have not been figured up yet
and it is impossible to tell at this time
whether the board will ask for a smaller or
larger appropriation than that of this year.