The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-06-25
westmInster,s financial Statement.

The annual statement of the finances Of
Westminster for the year beginning May Is,
1903, to May 16. 1904, has been issued by
Mayor Oscar d. Gilbert, aud attested by
Henry B. Grammer. From it is learned tina,
the Mayors salary was 500 aud that OF each
Of the i've councilmen $50. The salary Of
the latter was recently increased TO $40 year.
with deductions for absence from meetings.
The taxable basis for the levy OF 1908 was
81. sol. O22 so. The total receipts for the
year were Sl4, 773. 81. This included q cash
balance from the previous year, 1893. Of
81, 04I. 20, and the statement shows that this
was the exact amount IN the hands Of the
treasurer at the end Of this year, Mas Is. 1891.
The total also included some back taxes for
the years 1898. 1899, 1900. 1901 aud 1902.
and the interest thereon; 81, 2ss9 from Licenses.
$3.50 from the Baltimore aud Reisierslown
Turnpike Company Is months J, $500 Dor.
rowed money and S75s. IS from special deposits
in sinking fund, Sl52 from tax on foreign se
curities for 1901, $40 from the same source
for 1902 and SSl2.26 in 1908.
The disbursements during the year amou1ted
to $l2, 7al.74 Ia the disbursements we're The
redemption Of two $500 bonds, 81 per cent,
held by the Fidelity and Deposit Company Of
Baltimore, $3.50 TO the clerk aud collector,
$3.50 to the hailiG and street commissioner
besides buying him two So suits and lso s.
hats; SIS 20 the treasurer, So 10 the counsel
to the corporation. $500 10 counsel in the
suit against the city by the Westminster Water
Company and SIS more for the brief IN the
case when il was taken TO the Court ut Ap-
peals; g. $40 for electric light and Slo2 more
for iueandesceu; lamps, So 10 Westminster
Water Co; $500 to the CitizsBS Water Com
pany; $685. 50 for sinking fund; $50 interest
on bonds redeemed; SSS25 50 for SIX months
interest on SIS. 900 outstanding bonds, SlJua
to repay borrowed money, and $50 interest
on the borrowed moHey.
The liabilities Of the city are stated ip be
$40, 900 outstanding bonds. and 81. 600 iioat-
ing debt, a total Of SIS. coo. Tae assets arr
stated 10 be g., 22l.59. These include steam
street roller 81, $50. original cos about thFr
teen years ago; street sprinkler 1856, original
cost Eve or SIX years ago; unsolicited taxes
S., 0S3, uncolleeied licenses $500, N sinking
fund SOL 50. aud cash 10 the hands Of the
treasurer s., o4l. 20. The steam roller. street
sprinkler and the sinking tund are not really
assets of the city as against the floating dsbi.
The sinking fund must be maintained and the
city could not well dispense Siih ;he roller
and sprinkler. As 10 the latter, the cIly
should have another, as one i uoi suihcgeni
to Allay the dust on about SIX miles ct streets
Il is not likely that all Of the back taxes aud
licenses can be collected. aud the available
assets Of the city are about $4,000 less than
the floating debt
The cost OF materials for street improve
ment, surveying and repairs to- steam roller
was abouf $l2o;. then there Is this item ia
the statement by cash paid for other street
improvements aud labor $685.. Is So Il would
appear that about S2lO0 we're expended for
street improvements. The salary Of ctr oth
Gals, including uniforms for the baiiih
amounted to about $3.50.