The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-09
BUDGET PROVING
kNOTTY PROBLEM
Demands Far Exceed Citys
Revenues. and Much Pruning
IS Needed.
PAYROLL IS BuRDEnsoME
Recent Bond Issues Loading
City With Heavy Annual
Interest Charges.
PAYROLL is BURDENsoME

The budget subcommittee spent sew
eral hours last night working over its
report, trying in every possible way to
cut the coat 10 ut the cloth. On the
first draft made according 10 he state
inenta Of the department heads as to
their actual leeds, the budget exceed
cd by about $4,000 the proba BILE rev.
enues for the year, and that draft ac
coruihg TO Chairman Pollard OF the
FINANCE Committee. contained nothing
Tor new school buildings, nothing for
smooth paving and nothing for new
regimcntal armory.
Obviously, the pruning knife is to
be vigorously applied before the ap-
Propriation ordinance is reported for
ADDITION.
Pay Roll "A Heavy Drain.
ne FINANCE Committee IS sharply
feeling the drain OF the continued in
creases in salaries and pa: rolls. Both
the rate OF pay and the number of men
In almost every department In the CITY
government have been increased In
the past three years. the process of in :.
crcasing salaries being continuous de.
spite every effort to hold within the
bounds made by both the Committee
or Ordinance, Charter and Reform and
the Finance Committee.
In the past year a number OF new
positions have been created, though
comparatively few salaries have been
raised The city's pay roll at present.
however. Will exceed S1,OGn0OO ac-
cordinG TO the best estimates, although
the budget of last year does not clear
~ show this. as the accounts for some
departments nave the pay roll and ex-
pcnse items Jumped
Waiting for Council.
r. N
tempt to complete the budget until az
ter the meeting of the Board Of Alder
men next Tuesday night as there are
several pending resolutions Which arc
in the nature of instructions TO the
committee. For instance. if the Coun
ell tonight reconsiders It's action OF
Monday night and adopts tho wharf
proposition, provision must he made in
the budget for the cost Of the wharf
at about $4,000, and for removing a
rock ledge in the river a about $1,000.
If the Board Of Aldermen next Tuesday
night concurs with the Council in
ordering the Finance COMMITTEES to
provide $4,000 for music in the parks.
hat item will be included.
The Finance Committee has recon-
mended that it be rejected as an IN
necessary expense and uffor1ing a
doubtful advantage through bringing
the annoyance Of those who regularly
use the breathing spaces OH summer
nights.
Streets and Schools
While there IL little chance for
smooth paving in this years budget.
the committee feels that the street ap-
preparation must be Increased to meet
the demands Of citizens living on mul
thoroughfares: otherwise tho demand
for bond issue for streets Will be too
strong for the conservative element
on the Finance Committee 10 resist
Provision must also be made for n
comprehensive policy OF school build
ing, though the replacing of he older
buildings will probably he done one
at time, thus spreading The app.o-
priation over longer perion than the
School Board proposed
The continued issue of bonds during
the past four years for sewers. cleo
trio plant, high school. annexed terri
tory, gas works rehabilitation and
water mains has largely increased tho
annual charge for interest and re-
demption of city bonds. the total cost
OF interest md redemption last year
having been s16S,6Os,OS. an increase
of $I7,464.40 over the previous year.