The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-08
WRITES ON
CITY'S FINANCES
coNeRATULATE3 COUNCIL THAT
AFFAIRS ARE IN SUCH EXCEL
LENT SHAPE IN FACE OF FALL
ING OFF IN REVENUES.

On the financial condition of the city OF
birmingham. Mayor Frank P. O'Brien
issued the following yesterday;
October Z, 1909.
To the Honorable City Council;
Gentlemen-Complying with section IL
of the municipal code, herewith present
to YOU the compete and comprehensive
ranort of YOUR city auditor, Mr. c. S.
Peterson.
This is the first complete financial re-
mort from this department since the
fscal wear was changed from the cal
endar wear to July-July. The wisdom
of your honorable body in making 'i'S
change will be apparent to the COM
munity and be appreciated by all pusl'
ness men. inasmuch as your budget COM
noittee can now arrive at an approx
mately correct estimate of the city an
nua, revenue. whereas the revenue in
calendar year would of necessity De
talxen from a portion of the preceding
years tax levy.
Tn view of recent legislative enact
ment creating Greater Birmingham.
this will be the last complete hnanclai
report of the present city In the lu
ture. this will serve as gauge by "hlch
IN measure conditions which Will be
brought about by the addition of the
various municipalities which will go to
make up the greatest city in the SOUTH
do not think 1t amiss in bringing this
report to your notice, to call your at
tention to matters that will materially I'M
proye conditions pertaining to the Well
being of this municipality; 1t is there
fore with great pleasure that l submit
this report Of the auditor.
From year to year reports from some
of my predecessors have been largely
devoted to the financial sybarrassments
of the city government, and methoos
have been, properly, suggested TO I'M
prove conditions. Attention has been
called to the growing needs of the NUM-
cipality, in various directions, and the en-
actment of the law creating Greater Biz
mingham has fastened the day when
tbe various matters will require prompt
and aggressive attention.
A careful analysis of the auditors re-
mort exhibits the fact that the total re-
GENTS from all sources, including tenn
porary loans, from July ], 1908, to June
30, 1909, amount to 81, 295, 9SS.24 and dis
bursements, including temporary loans, to
81. 315, e72. rs. 1t will be seen that the dis
bursements for the fiscal year ending
.June 30, 1909 were $19,6s4.54 in excess Of
receipts.
AS stated in my first message to your
honorable body one my induction into Of
flee as Mayor, / found no funds in, the
treasury and was forced to negotiate a
temporary loan of s15ooOo to cover the
above overdraft and bridge over the time
until the tax collection period should ar
rive.
On account of loss of revenue from the
liquor traffic, your miscellaneous commit
tee was forced to increase licenses and
| other privilege taxes which naturally
| worked a hardship on some of our tax
payers. This was rendered necessary In
order to meet the loss OF revenue, yet
there was deficit between the amount
formerly collected and the sum Melted from
the increase of business.
| 1t is a matter for congratulation that
| the increase in the assessments of realty
| and personal properties, and the intan,
gible tax, has about wiped out that deficit
In addition to the revenue from increased
valuation and other sources mentioned, al
the recent special session of the legisla
ture an amendment to the municipal cod.
was enacted which gives to the city one
half of the road and bridge tax collected
by the county from the city. The city''
proportion Of this levy will be $43.629 81
for the year 1909. =
| Revenue from personal and real as
! easements Of 1909. uas compared with 1soS