Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-31
CITY'S REVENUES
INCREASE But so
DOEXP ENDITURES
Large Advance in Special As
sessments Shown During
the Last Year.
WELL UNDER DEBT LIMIT
ADD Itionsi Bonds Voted to Make Need
ed improvements but Finan-
elai Condition Is Good.
BY MARTIN 7. RUDGREN.

OF accounts and finances. which de
partment has supervision over all ac-
counts and records OF the city. the
collection. OF all moneys due the city.
and the payment OF all claims against
the city. The affairs OF this depart
1uent are taken care % by the commits
siouer in charge OF the department,
two assistant city clerks and the city
treasurer. This department. uCtwith-
standing the great increase IN the
business Of the same. IS run with less
cost now than under the old form o.
city government
The city o. Rock Island. like most
cities. anticipates the revenue for the
wear and bases appropriations on
funds 70 be received and not as vet
in the city treasury This makes the
city always short on ready cash with
which % pay the many claims on the
treasury for carrying IN the city's bus
iness and makes 10 necessary 10 Dor
row money on the tax levy from the
local banks In order 10 paw said claims
when due This has been the case
a. FAR back as memory runneth. on ac-
count oT the fact that taxes do not
come .n until the close OF the fiscal
year and therefore are not available
a. soon as needed
Gives Comparative Statement
herewith submit a statement Civ ]
ing a comparison OF receipts and dis
bursemeuts Tor q period covering I
three year, As will be- noted 5y com
pairing the same there has been con
siderable increase in the receipts %.
the last year. followed by cores
spending increase iu the expenditure.
both Of which have added to the work
% this department. but we have 80
far been able to handle this increase
in the volume OF the business without
adding additional help This OF
course. would not have been possible
except by improving the system for
handling this work. which mas been
done from time % time by Installing
modern up-tD-da,e methods for tI
same
We prepare and have printed month
Is in pamphlet form. as j. required.
complete report o. receipts and dis
bursements and the minutes OF the
meetings ~ the council which are dis
trihuted from the city clerks Office.
Shortly after the close Of each fiscal
year all accounts or the city hare audit
ed and complete report o. same IS
presented 10 the council This gives =
the public a complete check on this
department so that they will know
whether or uOt each dollar received Is
properly accounted FOR. :
Bonded Debt Increased. [
During this year the bonded debt =
Of the city has been increased by the 2
sale Of the bonds authorized by the 2
voters year ago last August This Il
money has been used 10 very good ad- p
vantage 10 tie city. generally in max 2
ing needed Improvements which IL II
would have been impossible to provide
had Tot this bond issue been author r
lied as the fixed running expenses are
too large 10 permit any great sum for =
Improvement out OF the current rev
enues. The maturi,ies OF this new
bend issue have been arranged so
as 70 take up part bf them each
year. Our bonded debt al present con
sists Of the following. the last six b
Items o. which are not. strictly speak
Ing. bonded debt. but the amounts as
sessed against the city as its share OF
public improvements for which spe-
cal improvements bonds are issued. A
ne city paying In instailments:
Elevated tank bonds 1913 100000
NaiervOrks extension and n
5eitermer; bonds ....... I5.5OOOO
Milan bridge repair bonds 100000
Police automatic alarm sys-
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