Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-03-07
Ten Thousand Dollars Will be
Set Aside.
FINANCE COMMITTEE AT WORK
Budget ard License Tax Levy Nearly
Compieted-School Levy to be Cut
for Benefit Of General Income
Special Session.

In the budget Of the city's expenses
for the coming fiscal year provision
will be made for the repairing and i'm
proving OF the city hall. as recommend
ed by the building and grounds com
mitee of the council recently. The
finance committee has decided upon a
plan, to be submitted to the council,
by which $4,000 can be set aside for
the city hall improvements without
raising the tax levy or in any way in
terferng with the regular apDropria-
tons to be made in the budget
1t is proposed to build an addition
TO the court house, in order to provide
for the long needed Circuit Court
room. to give the clerks Office the fire
proof vault, etc, required by law, and
to put the city officers in more con
Venient quarters. In addition to this
the entire building is to be overhauled
and put in repair.
This matter was discussed by the
finance committee last night, when a
meeting was held to dispose Of regular
business and to complete the budget
and license tax ordinances.
The license tax ordinance is now
about ready TO so to the council and
in one more meeting the committee
can finish up its work on the budget
In fixing the budget the committee
is doing everything possible to save
money. Little expenses in various de-
partments are being cut down and in
creased appropriations are allowed
only where it is deemed absolutely nee
essary.
Storm Water Sewer.
The committee has under consid-
Grafton the building or a storm water
sewer on Roanoke avenue, which
would do away with Sthe pumping sta
ton. now costing the city more than
$4,000 annually. If it S found feas-
ible to construct this sewer, $4,000 will
be set aside for the purpose
The committee is also considering
the ACCESSIBILITY OF closing the North
END lire station for the coming year
It is said that if Huntington avenue is
shelled Cor paved in some way from
Fortyseventh street to the city limits,
the Central engine company can cover
the North End territory with ease
Cut i School Levy
Another matter Of great Importance
which is now being discussed by the
committee is a reduction in the school
levy. The school levy will very prob
ably be cut from 25 cents on 500 to 20
cents, and the generally tax levy will
be raised from 90 cents on 500 TO 95
cents. 1t is believed that the schools
can be maintained properly with a
twenty-cent- levy and thereduction will
enable the committee TO secure more
money for the city government without
an Increase in taxation.
At it Until Midnight.
The meeting of the finance commit
tee lasted until nearly midnight last
night. Another meeting will be held
some time this week and a specia;
meeting OF the council will be called
70 receive the report when it is ready
Chairman LivcZey. Messrs. Har-
wood, Wilkins and Davis and Prcsi-
dent d. S. Jones. OF the common coun-
Gil were present.
Health Committee
The health committee of the coun-
Gil met. last night with Chairman Will
kins, Mcssrs. Mugler and Harris and
President Jones present Bills were
audited and report prepared for the
council tonight