El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-25
81


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You will understand that in. recon-
mending the budget for 1911, did So
only after I had scrutiniZed every item
Of expense in each department and cut
out everything except what 1 felt to be
absolutely necessary. Now the depart
ments above referred to willsh have to BE
run for the ensuing year very econom-
ically or again create a deficit.
This / am very anxious to avoid
and expect the hearty cooperation of
the heads Of all the departments in
cutting down expenses within the avail
able cash on hand.
ITO facilitate this 1 would recon-
mend that a resolution, be passed by
the council requiring the heads of all
departments to make q written request
to the alderman who is chairman OF
that department., who after investiga-
ton, will approve the same and then
send the request to a committee to be
appointed by the mayor who shall have
the final power of ordering or rejecting
the purchase of articles requested If
this committee allows request, then the
purchasing agent Will be ordered to
purchase.
Il feel that this close super
vision will tend to economic all the
expenses of the different departments
and keep perfect check upon all -ex-
penses.
Proposes storehouse.
L also recommend that the land pur-
chased by the city, situated on Magof-
fin iavenue. be improved by building a
general storehouse for the purpose of
storing all supplies of every nature
used by the city. and employ a store
house keeper. All feed and supplies will
be charged to- this general store and
the duty of this storekeeper will be to
deliver and charge all supplies to each
and every department and keep a cor
rect record of same.
Il am confident by doing this and
buying all supplies in large and whole
sale quantities we can save the city
many dollars.
In the general fund there also ex-
lists large deficit, s25S,255-SS, OF which
considerably over 100000 has been
spent during the past four years in paw
ing street intersections for which no
provision was made when bonds for the
revolving paving fund were sold.
An Old Deficit.
Much of the balance of this deficit
has been long existing and passed on
from one administration to another.
The general fund shows a deficit:
In 1908 of s 10,24S-45
In 1909 of ..-.........- 147,995.56
In 1911 of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1S,35S-51
Making a total deficit at i
this date of s25S. 255.sS
Seventeen Thousand dollars Of ou-
1911 deficit was occasioned by the
necessary purchase of land at Washing
ton park for the erection of garbage
and sewage disposal plants for the rea-
son that the land originally purchased
for that purpose could not be used. The
work on this plant is progressing sat
isfactorily and will be completed and
the plant installed within the time
limit.
Regarding the revolving paving
fund word here may not be amiss:
Bonds to the amount of 100000 were
originally sold, the purpose being to
loan the proceeds to property owners
to cover cost of paving their frontage }
said loans to be repaid in four equal }
annual instruments. thus keeping the !
fund intact against final liquidation of |
the bonds. This fund is frequently au-
lifted and has today 100000 in cash in /
Talid claims.
School Debt Large.
THE school trustees report will show /
L deficit of about SS4, 600 in round fig |
lres. at the commencement of this next 1
school year.
Total City Debt.
Thus it will be seen that the total |
floating debt of the city as of April 1. !
1911, is 4O2,5ss.73, and inasmuch As |
he city is paying interest at the rate |
# s percent on the outstanding war
rants covering same, 1 deem it advisa-
BILE that we arrange to refund at least
part of this Indebtedness at a lower
ate of interest.
sour present taxable values are in /
excess of sSO,OOO,OOO, while our out
standing bonds are s1.653. OeO-consid-
,rably less in proportion than other
Texas cities of prominence. /
Il therefore wish to submit to the
axpayers of our city proposal to is
ue 3 percent bonds, the proceeds to be
devoted TO covering the larger part of
he deficit in the departments above
mentioned, and 20 make necessary en-
arguments in our school buildings. and
o build a new schoolhouse in the Bas-
EFT addition which is very much need
d. for which about $4,000 is neces-
airy.
By doing this we will save a large
mount per annum in interest charges,
Which in itself is a large item, and in
edition, the budget Of each succeeding
ear need not include an appropriation
o apply on the deficit of former years.
o that the plan I recommend will not
nvolve an increase in the tax rate, but,
lore than likely. a reduction, unless
ublic Improvements not now contem-
lated should arise.
L wish it to be distinctly understood
hat these deficits are the inheritances
hat we have fallen heir to from pre-
eding years, and that no particular ad-
can be or should be held
ccountable therefor They are simply
he excess of a growing city, made at