The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-02
Citys Financial Condition Feat :
 ufG of Special Interest
HOW THE DEFICIT OCCURRED
Increased Expensea In DetalI-state- ment as to Public Schools, Streets, Parks, Fire Department, Police
 and Greater Birmingham.

Mayor Drennen submitted his annual message to the board or aldermen last night. The full text follows:
 To the Honorable Board of Mayor and
 Aldermen Birmingham, Ala: Gentlemen-In submitting this report at the conclusion of the fourth year of my service as mayor of Birmingham, the feature of special interest 10 you must be the city's financial condition.
 The total receipts from all sources for the year 1902 are $42S, 6s9. and the dis bursements s47627S. Compared with the year 1901 there was a reduction in the total receipts of 17,750. This does not of course imply falling off of taxable val ues within that period. It Is accounted for by the act of the general assembly of Alabama of February, 1901, affixing a penalty of per cent interest on all un- paid taxes after they shall have become delinquent. This resulted in an earlier payment of taxes than usual, that were credited to the receipts of 1901 for which year they were due, instead of being col lected in and credited to the succeeding year as heretofore
 As between receipts and disbursements there is an adverse balance or deficit of
 
 general interest to know how this de- felt came about, and the following brief statement will suffice for an understand ing of it.
 Loss of poll tax by operation of new
 constitutional. ........ ............ .$9, 900 New school buildings; outlay in ex- cess of board fund for building m $500 School department increased ex- penses.... ........ ....... ........... 6,lOO Police department; increased ex-
 pehses ''..... ....'. ..........'....... SoOO Fire department ........ ....... ...... 4S00 Purchase of parks ................ 9 400 Garbage outfit purchased from gar
 bage contractor, with purchase of
 mules and additional equipment. $500 Street sprinkling; cost of water, pur-
 chase of mules and equipment .. 3500 City prison improvements ............ 1000 The total assessed valuation of real and personal property within the city limits for the year 1902 was SIS, ,31S, ,4O8. For the year 1901 this valuation was $17695, ,690.
 Licenses and street taxes for 1902 amounted to $1657O4, as against $156,556 for the year 1901.
 From these sources must come the bulk of our fixed income, and from the sum total of this must be set apart $12O 900 annually to meet the fixed interest charges on our bonded indebtedness call your attention to these facts that they may have due weight and consideration in any movement or proposition looking to any further direct increase of the expenses in any department of the city government.
 We have been compelled by reasons we could not ignore to materially extend our Ire department and to increase its effi- ciency. By like necessity we have had to increase the cost of our police department, and that our public schools might ap- proximately meet pressing demands we have erected new bi1ildfroe and oJdod largely to the number of instructors The expenses of the street department too have grown apace since that department now charged with the work of sanitation has had to accomplish and has accom- plished what could not have been accom- pHsheo under the contract system. These things have added largely to the fixed operating expenses and make up the greater part of the deficit above shown.
 Every source of our income with one exception is held within fixed constitlf- tional rates; hence the power does not reside in us to increase these rates The exception above noted is the merchant and license law, which is fixed and levied by the board.
 It seems apparent that the expenses of any further extension at the present of any function of the city government would have to be met by raising this levy, and this l do not recommend.
 Public Schools.
 feel 1t to be a matter of genuine felici- tation that the former congested condition of our school buildings has been relieved. The three substantial brick buildings with sixteen additional teachers, have greatly increased our educational facilities It does not seem possible to forecast what few years may do for the population of Birmingham, but the probable con tingency has in part been provided for in the new buildings which have been so planned and constructed that additions may be made as requirements arise
 l have therefore, in two annual mes- sages, recommended the building of a col ored school to supersede the Thomas school destroyed by fire several years ago. This recommends ton has been ap- proved and endorsed by this board and by the board of education
 An option has recently been secured on lot suitably located for this building In the eastern part of the city, and it is hoped We can complete this building dur ing the present year.
 The crying need of today Is a high school building The building now being used for that purpose is a hired house.. inadequate in size, and poorly adapted for this use. Until this is secured the youth of our community must suffer A serious loss in not being able to round out
 
 should supplement the elementary courses. As much and as ardently, as I desire such ar institution, l can see no prospect of obtaining it for some years to come under our present financial outlook m. less we are willing to accept as a con ditIon precedent that this school must rely and depend for it's maintenance on tuition charges. I am aware that several former administrations, both of the board of mayor and aldermen and board of education, have passed this project over. fin their reluctance to impose a charge for tuition. Nevertheless, after all this wait ing and postponing, we have made no pro- gress towards practical solution of this question. This is a plain and candid statement of the case, and 1t brings the alternative squarely before us Shall we have a high school depending for Its main- tenance upon tuition fees, or without tui- tion fees, no high school.
 If such a building is erected I would advocate that in size it should be built for the Greater Birmingham that must eventually come, and that architecturallv 1t should compare with our magnificent city hall. the pride of us all.
 Engineering Department.
 The large amount of work in the way of public improvements. street, sidewalk and sewer construction is more partic- ularly dealt with in the report of the city engineer.
 The final summing up of this work shows that there was constructed during the year.
 42.695 llneal feet of curbing at a
 cost of ........ ..................$ 2. .493. .37 o4 rr