The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-08-26
ALDERMAN MooRE's ESTIMATE
PAIRING City Expenses Down to TIE
Finest Possible Point

consequence of which the millage was
reduced from 1917 TO 8 mills:
Mr.. President: / desire to submit
for the consideration OF this council
a new estimate for the expenditures
for the budget of 1856. Ocala at
the present time is going through one
of the worst financial depressions
known in it's history. and it must be
remembered that while our popula-
ton is progressive and desires to
keep pace with even the larger cities
in its public improvements, We must
at all times consider that these i'm
provements cannot be made by direct
taxation, and the question for this
council to solve is how to keep the
expenses OF the city within reason so
that the tax payer may not be bur-
dened by excessive taxation under the
present financial conditions
l have taken in connection with the
tabulated budget each department,
and desire to submit the following
notes, to-wit:
Executive Department
In this department, which consists
solely of salaries OF the officials Of
this city and incidental executive ex-
penses, we find that at the last ses-
sion of the legislature a bill was
passed allowing each councilman the
sum of SIS per month as salary. Dur
ing ordinary times this would not be
excessive, and perhaps small pay for
the services that the city receives:
but at the present time it adds $500
to the expenses of the city, and in
my opinion the tax payers are not in
condition to bear this expense; and,
for my part, would sooner see a tax
levy made Of one-fourth mill each for
the Marion county hospital, the Ocala
city band, and a rest room. The latter
item / would particularly recommend
for at the present time there is no
place where our country friends, who
are visiting the city for business rea-
sons, with their wives and children,
may even feel that they have a place
to rest without infringing upon some
one. With this item of $500 from
the budget it would reduce the esti-
mate of the executive department to
5000, which item is a little more
than it was during the year 1914-15.
Police Department
In this department l do not believe
it would be possible to conduct it any
more economically that it has done
during the past year, while under
present conditions it will require
even more vigilance on behalf of the
department owing to a large floating
element that is adrift by reason OF
the lack of employment in the state
at the present time.
Street Department
In this department, under the first
item of the old budget is $4,000 for la
Dor, while the estimate for 1914-15
shows that but $47OS.S1 was paid for
labor, a large amount of which was
paid out at the rate of s1.25 per day
while at the present time these same
laborers are only paid 81 per day. In
comparing my estimate, you will note
that 1 have allowed $500 for labor
which is based upon the employment
of eight men at dollar per day and
a superintendent at SIS per month /;
likewise allowing some $500 for the
employment of city prisoners.
You will also note that l have al.
lotted but $500 for surveying. Dur.
ing the past year the amount of
$945.30 was expended, this large
amount being made necessary by the
laying of sidewalks, which will not
be incurred during the present year.
Such surveying as may be necessary
for the laying of the city sewers will
be paid out of the proceeds from the
sale of the sewer bonds.
l have also allowed but $3.50 for re-
pairs, horse-shoeing, etc., and in this
connection / desire to say that not
only in this department, but in every
department of the city, the strictest
economy must be practiced, as under
the present conditions the tax payers
must not be burdened by wasteful or
extravagant administration in any de
partment
/ have allowed the sum of 5000 for
road oiling. This / believe to be one
of the wisest plans that has been de
vised for the upkeeping Of our lime
roads, and the streets that have been
so treated have given the greatest sat
isfaction with the least amount of
upkeep.
l am also making an allowance of
$500 for machinery, which is to pay
for the apparatus now on hand.
At the present time the street de-
partment is one of the greatest ex-
penses that the city has. and in my
opinion it is high time for Ocala TO
stop building temporary streets. and
to commence the construction of
streets paved with either brick or as
phalt. 1t will be noted that last year
the sum of sS76S.92 was expended in
this department, and in this connec-
ton / desire to call the attention of
this council to the fact that the sum