The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-01
HAVE 0VERDRAWN
APPROPRIATIONS
SOME CITY DEPARTMENTS
HAVE ALREADY SPENT MORE
THAN WAS GIVEN THEM.

How City Departments VIII stand
at End of Year-SOme of Them
viii Have Small Balances, bur
Only WaterwOrIks Department
VIII Carry Over Large sum-Om-
ciais Are beginning to Figure on
Next Years Budget.
The careful watch which Mayor
Myers is keeping on all the depart
ments of the city has disclosed the fact
that a number of them are already
overdrawn and that others will be be-
fore the end of the year.
The Mayor has given instructions
that the bills of all the departments
that have used up their appropriations
be held up until they are submitted
to him, and only expenses that are
absolutely necessary are to be allow
ed.
Among the departments that are
overdrawn, or will be before the end
of the year, are the health department,
the fire, the police, the harbor and
wharves. house drainage, house drain
age maintenance and storm sewers.
Other of the departments have a very
narrow margin and some of them may
exceed their appropriation. To avoid
this, if possible Mayor Myers is care
fully watching all bills.
Financial Statement.
financial statement of all the de-
partments, showing the appropriations
and the amounts that have been spent.
will ha 70 10
as the bills for the next meeting of
Council are put in. A similar state
ment was prepared just before the last
meeting, and 1t was then learned for
the first time that some of the depart
ments had gone beyond their appropri-
atoms.
Though the number of departments
to overdraw this year is larger than
usual, the total amount is not excep-
tlonally large. The fire department will
exceed, its appropriation by about ST.
300. This department has the distinc-
ton of always overdrawing. The no
lice appropriation will be exceeded by
a small sum, probably not over $500 or
$500. The overdraft in the health de-
partment will probably be larger. but
the exact amount is not known.
How Others stand.
AACN'C III aAAAeiSC VIII De OVer0ra'Wn
about $4,000 and house drainage mainte-
nance only small sum. Storm sewers
Will be overdrawn something like 81, OOO
probably less. The overdraft for har-
Dor and wharves is only slight.
The waterworks will carry over a.
good balance, the largest of any Of
the city departments. The City Mar
ket now has a small sum on hand and
It is not thought this will be over
drawn Tho
a small balance. A small portion of
the appropriation for incidentals will
be carried over. The scavenger depart
ment and the streets and lanes de-
partment will each be within its an
preparation, it is thought. The appro-
priation for the scavenger contract with
the street railway company has been
exceeded, but this is due to the fact
that the county has not paid it's share
of the money.
Preparing for Budget.
The officials are now preparing to
get to work on the budget for next
year. When the statement showing
the condition of each of the depart
ments is prepared for the Mayor. it
VIII be made up on a blank with
spaces left for next years appropria-
tons. The aldermen can then see.
while they are deciding about next
years appropriations, just how each of
the departments came out this year.
The actual work on the budget will
not begin until after the next meet
ing of Council, but already the officials
are at work. The most important item
in next years appropriations will be
the sum set aside for the City Hall.
Until this amount is determined moth
ing will, be decided about the budget.
1t is known. however. that any in
crease in regular appropriations will be
opposed by the Mayor, and 1t is not
believed any will be made.