Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-04-24
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CITY 5 EXPENSES
ARE on INCREASE
Cost Of Operating Municipal
Government Steadily Grow. :
ing Larger
SOME ITEMS ENTERING IN
some ITEMS ENTERING II
Added and Increased Departments
Have swellsd tho Cost of Main
tsnance-Poliee and Fire Depart
msnts Show a Large Comparative
lnerease-An Expensive Sewer.

ments Show q Largo Comparative
Inerease-An Expensive Sewer.
Marshalltown has grown in the last
nine years. This is an undeniable
fact. But the cost Of operating the
city, Of maintaining Its various depart
ments, has grown far out of proper
ton with its increase In population.
However, it is also undeniable that
tho city is better city by reason of
Z this increase in expenditures than it
would have been without them.
While the city's revenues have in
4 creased, part Of this increase has
been money derived from the sale Of
7 bonds. which has Increased the city's
liabilities or debt.
Those interested in tho subject
should consult the comparative re-
port. compiled by City Clerk L. Derby,
for tho nine years intervening between
March 81, 1900, and March 81, 1908.
This report accompanied the annual
report Of the city clerk, which was re-
Gently made to the city council.
All Departments Cost More.
There Is scarcely a department of
the city's business, ut least not among
the larger departments, which is not
costing more now than nine years ago.
rv.3 al hA <3vo
departments, the cost now is more
than double what it was nine years
ago. Undeniably both departments
then.
Good Fire Protection Costs.
In the years Of the volunteer de-
partments, which dated prior to 1903,
the yearly cost Of the c4ty's fire sprotec-
ton ranged from approximately $4,000
to $1,000. In 1902, the last year of the
volunteer department, it cost 1898.
During the fiscal year just closed the
paid department cost 1855, and S.
1o6 for the year 1905. was minimum
yearly cost Of the department since Its
establishment. The first year Of its
existence, 1908, the expense was $780,
$40, which included the cost q equip
ment and installation While the cost
has increased by leaps and bounds,
there can be no comparison between
tho old regime Of well-meaning but
often incompetent volunteers and the
present department. With the in
crease In cost there is a decrease in
insurance rates, owing to better fire
protection.
Cost Of Policing Grows, Too.
The cost Of the police department Is
another item that shows a marked
Increase. In 1899 the police depart
ment cost $3,o31.G0, which is less than
half OF what the department cost dur
ing the year just ended, when the de-
5partment budget totaled s7,627.06. The
increase is explained by there being
more men on the force, a marked in
crease in the wages, and the added
cost Of the maintenance OF the police
patrol and the drivers pay.
Sewers Cost More.
The city's sewers have cost more
year after year, altho the past year
was not the most expensive OF the
nine taken in the comparison for this
In 1899 the city's sew
ers cost $2,913; In 1903, when special
work was done in this department, the
cost rose to $9,564, and last year it
was $4,03s. an increase of about $500
over 1905, and about $500 over 1905.
The streets and alley department.
cost 1888 in 1900, which is less than
e has cost IN any year since. with
tho exception Of 1906, when 1t was 81
so4. Last year 1t was $4,000.
A Sewer That Was Expensive.
One instance Of an extraordinary
expense In the sewer department, will
Illustrate the cost of an unusually ex-
penstve piece of the ctys network
Of sewers. In 1892 an outlet for the
city's sewers was built from Market
street to the Iowa river. The sewer
cost 913500, and bonds for that amount |
drawing per cent interest, were is
sued to pay for 1t. These bonds were
taken up in 1900 and refunded at per
cent. The interest paid to date on this
loan Is $3.50. making the total cost of
this sewer $23,280. Nothing has been
paid on the principal Of this loan.
Deficit the Usual Thing.
During but two, out Of the nine years
Of this period, have the receipts of the
city from its various sources exceeded |
the expenditures. Last year was one Of
the two, when there was a balance Of |
MI b0s. The year 1905 was another
when tho city had a balance Of $6,727.
In each Of the other seven years there
has been a deficit ranging from 1918,
In 1900, to $24,99S in 1901, the great
est deficit Of the entire period. It has
been the custom, ordinarily. when the
and unpaid warrants of
tfe city assumed too large proportions,
to make bond issue to take up these
warrants. This accounts principally
FOR the increase in the bonded debt,
which was $1,000 in 1899. and which
rose to $4,000 in 1905, but has been
essened $4,000 since then.
Spends More, But Also Earns More.
While the city has been spending
more money. 1t has, at the same time,
been receiving more from the sources
rom which its revenue is derived. In
1899 the citys total receipts were $751;
1872. In 1907 they were $99,32S. which
vas the maximum, with the exception
II 1905, when there was bond issue
which swelled the total to $121, 995. Not
aking into account the year 1905 the
Increase in receipts has been compar-
ltavely steady. OF course much OF this
.ame from the taxation Of the city's
which has showed an in
.rease in the nine years of from $685.
E51 IN 1899, to S52,748 in 1906. Last
rear it was $46,1S7 The sale Of its