The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-12-01
"a DIGEST OF THE PROPOSED
COMMISSION FORM CHARTER

SUCH budget snail be stated In genoral
terms such as sundries, miscellaneous,
etc., but shall state the exact use for
which the expenditure is to be made"
There is nothing discretionary about
this provision and this provision is a
part of an act of the legisla-
ture of the state Of Florida, and
cannot be changed by vote
of the council. ~ Is there any hui
man being, or set of human beings,
who can at the beginning of the year
say definitely for just what purpose
collected will be spent for? There is
never a meeting of the present coun-
Gil where items that were entirely un-
forseen at the time of making the
budget, do not come up. AS an exam
pie: Recently the council had to pur
chase a team of mules at an expense
of $500. Do the trainers of this char
ter expect to elect clarivoyants as
commissioners so that they may. be
able in making up their budgets to |
prognosticate the fact that some time |
during the year a team of the city's |
mules will depart this life. We must |
remember that when an amount of |
money is placed in budget for a |
specified purpose, that it cannot be |
used for any other purpose and we |
fear that before this system had been
in vogue for many years the city
treasury would be cluttered with funds
created for needs that did not mater
ialize.
But the worst has not yet been told
! in reference to the Budget, when
/ the far-seeing commissioner, after con-
lsultation with the prophets and sons
of prophets have compiled this budget
and have duly specified where every
dollar is to be spent, they are COM
PEELED then, on petition, to submit it
to vote of the people, and if the
budget is not ratified by majority of
/ the votes cast at the election it shall
not be adopted. The budget is the es-
ensuing year is fived. 1t must be made
] up in January, published for certain
! length of time, submitted to the peo-
pie, and if not ratified. what then?
There will be no budget, therefore no
millage, therefore no taxes, for the
ensuing year. as this charter provides
no method of proceeding if the budget
is not ratified. We cannot go back
to our charter as the budget must be
made up in January. The tax books,
which are not mentioned in this act,
open according to the old charter, on
April LIST. The election cannot be
held in January, as the publication and
notices provided for this act would
compel it to be held later than Feb.
1st We can only say that we sincere
ly hope that such a condition of af-
fairs will never exist
: The act is vague and indefinite as
) regards the passage of Ordinances,
: referring to this matter in several
i, places. but nowhere doing more than
3 placing restrictions thereon that con
f fiict with the provisions of the OLD
S charter. For example, an ordinance
r under the Act cannot be emended dur
J. ing the ten days before it is finally
; passed. Under the old charter notice
t would have to be given at one meet
V ing of the introduction of the pro
IrN0 ID ~V~Is i IL
n troduced and passed on two reading.
e but could not then be amended and a.
q a matter of fact the second reading
d would be the final one as the new Ac
o requires it to be kept on file with tn,
It city clerk in its completed form 70
b. one week before its final passage.
The Act as it now stands was pei
is haps suited to Orlando, or some othe
Is city of Florida, whose existing charte
sr was carefully studied before this Ac
IS was drawn and whose weaknesse
lie were intended to be remedied or SUI
e. plimented by this charter 1t couI
IS not however have been drawn wit
ar referance to the present existing mum
lie cipal government of Daytona and doe
ID not in any way remedy any condition
at that should be remedied. Great stres
&c has been laid upon the terrible action
&c of the present city officers and libe
Ill Gus statements have been made in II
3" ference thereto, but not a specifi
te instance has been given or a definit
ne charge made, that the friends of TIL
n Act claim will be remedied by il
ne passage.
ee The adoption of the Act that th
er citizens of Daytona will be called upo
M to vote for or against on January 4tt
ed will not be step forward, but will
he a step backward; a step into the u
lily known, as it is impossible to forsC
at the complications that may arise fro
the adoption of this vague and indie
we mite amendment to our present cha