Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-02-21
ARE TO ATTEND
NEXT CITY COUNCIL
City Beautiful Members
Plan to Be Present at
Meeting.
DIR. JASIN TO SPEAK.
viii Tell Aldermen How Budget Can
BE Arranged So Citizens Will
Acquire Much Benefit.

According to the present plans, the
members of the City Beautiful Club
are expected to attend the meeting
of the City Council Monday night in
force. at which time Rabbi Joseph
]asin will present figures, based on
the recent survey of the city by the
Bureau of Municipal Research, to
show that the city can take care of
it's financial obligations. The pub
lie is also asked to attend
Before the City Beautiful Thursday
night, he gave report in which he
declared that means could be found
to keep up present efficiency on the
present revenu, evn though tn city
should be without the liquor license
revenue
The City Council on Monday even
ing is to take up the work of pre-
pairing the city budget for 1914. The
matter was discussed at the last
meeting, but no definite action was
taken in this matter.
The Graphic has already published
a portion of a chapter of the report
dealing with the city finances, and
the following is another portion OF
the chapter devoted to this special
feature. -~ss 7s}.~s ,ss sa-s'gese 7.sst ~ q
The financing of the city of Pine
Bluff is deficient in these respects:
1. The assessment of property at
33 per cent of it's value instead of
so per cent, deprives the city of at
least $4,000 annually in general
taxes.
2. The city pas in lum sums out of
it's current revenue, for the construc-
ton of improvements that should be
paid for through the issue of bonds
since the maximum tax rate is fixed
by law.
3. The, city issues short term notes
to cover deficits, and thereby loses in
discount charges approximately $4,000
in 1918.
4. The city's budget is not passed
until at least the fifteenth of Janu-
airy, i. e., fifteen days after the be-
ginning of the year which is covers.
5. The determination of the ap-
preparations to be contained in the
annual budget is deficient as follows:
(a) Estimates of accounts and
purposes of expenditures for the fol-
lowing year are not published for
public consideration before their
adoption.
CD No definite statement of plans
for expenditures is required to &C
company the estimate.
Co Estimates are based on bills
paid in previous years, not on expen-
ses incurred.
(d) Public hearings are not set or
advertised, nor is the cooperation OF
citizens or citizen organizations
sought for in examination of the esti-
mates. AS a result budget estimates
are scrutinized only by members OF
the council and particularly by the
finance committee.
6. The city does not profit, as do
private depositors, by the receipt OF
interest from the bank in which the
city's funds are deposited.
Recommendation.
In order that the financing OF the
city may be on sound business basis
the following recommendations are
made:
/. That the city secure all the ad-
ditional $4,000 revenue due 1t
through requiring the valuation of all
property to be assessed on the basis
required by law.
2. That in order to relieve pres
ent taxpayers of the burden of the
cost of permanent improvements, the
city as such cease to pay for such
improvements out of current receipts.
8. That the city cease to decrease
funds available for rendering serv-
ices to citizens through paying inter-
est on short term notes.
4. That the amounts of money 20
be appropriated and the purposes
for which it is to be appropriated be
determined before the beginning Of
the year for which the appropriations
are made, l. q, that the budget be