The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-07-22
MAYOR BRANSFORD QUESTIONS
FIGURES ADVANCED BY THOSE
WHO OPPOSE ISSUE OF BONDS

Considerable interest has been aroused
in the estimate of receipts and disburse-
ments for 1908 contained in the address TO
the public which the minority in the coun-
cf opposed to the bond issue endeavored
TO have brought up at the meeting Mon
day evening. The impression among the
administration officials who have made a
careful study of the financial condition
or the city is that the figures presented
are far from the truth. and instead of
having surplus of $4,000 with which to
prosecute improvements. the city will not
only be unable to carry on public work
but Will surely lave to raise the tax levy
II the bonds are not passed.
Mayor Bransford, as chairman of the
committee on estimates ana apportior-
ments of the council. has gone into the
subject thoroughly with the special audit
ors who spent a year or more on the city's
books, and he is able to point out many
mistakes in the statement prepared by the
minority
Mayor Is Puzzled.
figures if he starts out with a prejudiced
intention" said the mayor yesterday
but | have gone into this whole matter
with the special auditors. whose only duty
was 10 give us an unprecedented statement.
and ! cannot see how those of the minor
ity in the council ever concocted their ia
BILE"
The mayor then went on to analyze the
estimates or receipts and disbursements
for the year 1908 made by the opposition.
1.-THE first item in the estimate of re-
ceipts.' said the mayor. lis $37. 0SS "a.
which was the cash on hand in the gen.
eral fund Dec. 81. 1907. and of course avail
able for this year. The next item is $780,
344 60 for taxes assessed prior to 1908. THIS
should be entirely eliminated from consid-
Grafton. as the money was all spent in
1907 and credited to that year. The same
is the case as far as the item of flat water
rates assessed prior to E90S, which is Civ
en- $40, 769 80. Again. it is stated that
the meter and miscellaneous water rates
for 1908 will be S52 500 81. IL will be nearer
$4,000
All Wrong on Licenses.
The most careful estimate we have
been able to make allows $20S,000 for
licenses and S9S.OJO for departmental re-
ceipts for 1908; Those who make the
statement would have it that the licenses
will bring in 5000 and the departments
will collect S109 S79. so. This Is entirely eT-
rOneOuS from my viewpoint, as in 1907 We
received but S2lS. 166. 30 in licenses and this
year is bound to show a reduction. as
many of the licenses paid for in 1907 run
over into this year and are not a part of
our revenue for 1908. This must be at
least $4,000. during December. under
the old system. about half the saloon
licenses expired. besides a large number
of merchants and miscellaneous licenses.
The tax levy of 13 mills on an assess
ment of $40 100000 seems correct and il viii
bring us S637. geo The entire amount of es-
timated receipts as shown by the state
ment is s.. 80. $50. 2S while the board of es-
Inmates and apportionment could only fig
ure on sl.3il. Si5.S9.
Disbursements Too Low.
THE figures submitted in the statement
also show the disbursements too low. The
board figured them at $.34l.Si5 while the