The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-02
NEW BUDGET WILL
CARRY 100000
Crcnshaw Completes Tentative
Draft, Which Goes to Coun-
Gil on Monday.
EFFECTIVE IN FEBRUARY
Appropriation Bill to Become
Law~One Month Earlier Than
Last Year.
EFFECTIVE IN FEBRUARY

Acting Auditor George S. Crcnshaw
has completed the tentative draft oil
the city's 1911 budget, and will pres
cnt the appropriation ordinance to the
Common Council at it's meeting on
monday night. 1T carries appropria-
lions aggregating s3.5Do,000, and prac-
| ticaliy disposes of all the estimated
revenues for this year.
| The trimming OF the tentative budget
into proper shape for enactment into
law will be the Councirs chief activ-
| ity for the next five or six weeks. The
Finance Committee will put the ma
| chinery in motion tonight by setting
the dates for series Of public hear
ings, at which the department heads
and city officials Will be given oppor-
tunty to appear before the budget
makers, and set forth their most press
| ing needs. 1t will probably appoint
tonight, also. the special budget sub
committee which will undertake the
task of framing the appropriation
ordinance.
Estimates Aggregate S7,OOO,0OO.
A table OF budget wants for the
year 1914 for each of the city depart
ments has been in the hands of Mr..
Crenshaw for two weeks or more The
sum total of the estimates for all the
departments is in tho neighborhood of
81, 900, 00Q-about twice the sum tina, is
available for appropriations. The es-
Inmates. however. are only slightly in
excess of those submitted last year, and
the ratio between the money asked for
and the money available remains about
the same.
The earlier departmental estimates
this year Will make possible the pass
ing of the appropriation ordinance
about one month earlier. The tenta-
tive appropriation bill will go to the
Common Council on Monday night, and
will. under the rules he referred by
it to the Finance COMMITTEES.
Upon the extent and number Of the
hearings In the Finance Committee will
depend largely tho date upon which
the 1914 appropriations will become
available. 1t is expected that the
Finance Committee will be ready to
report the finished ordinance by the
time the Common Council meets in
February. Unless unanticipated objec-
ton arises in that body, 1t will 20 to
the Board of Aldermen n week later,
and VIII probably become law before
the middle OF next month. Last year
the appropriation ordinance became
effective about March TO-
Iias About $3,6OO,0OO.
According to estimates made by Act
ing Auditor Crenshaw, the city will
have available for the 1914 budget
about s3.500,00O The sum is slightly
in excess of the appropriations for all
purposes in 1913. which aggregated
ss,4'" oS5.s5. Under the recent deci-
sion of the State Corporation Com
mission, declaring the rolling-stock
law UNCONSTITUTIONAL, the city would
retain this year $4,000 in taxes which
would otherwise be divided between
several counties of the State.
The saving of the rolling stock tax,
II appears. is not assured, and will not
be available for the 1914 budget There
is possibility that the law may be
held constitutional by the State Su-
pIeme Court
r.. T.. IL II. Helps.
Offsctting the $4,000 rolling-stocll
tax loss from this years budget is a
new source of revenue from the Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad Company, which. under the
recent tax adjustment. will pay taxes
10 the city this year amounting to $12-
5oo. TO this amount will be added this
year alone $4,000 In back taxes from
the same source
In view of the big crimp in the city's
bankroll caused by the withdrawal of
the rolling stock tax, the budget show
ing for 1914 is regarded as more than
satisfactory. The new budget will
Pno""iS 'op Ny SSo,oVv the aggregate
or the appropriations in 1913, and this,
/ despite the fact that the revenues
suffered setback, measured by the
difference between the loss from the
withdrawal OF the rolling stock tax
and the gain from the Richmond. Fred
ericksburg and Potomac Railroad Com
pany
Mr. Crenshaw estimates that the in
! crease in property values eligible for
taxation for the benefit OF the 1914
budget. will be about $4,000, 900. At tho
present tax rate the new property will
yield about $4,000.