Arizona republican., 1915-01-12

work have resulted in added efficiency and economy of administration
 In all departments of the city the standard of efficiency has been raised, and continuous effort is being made to effect therein all economies consist ent with the highest efficiency.
 The Commission is acquainted with the fact that the city was in serious financial difficulty until the payment of the first instalment of the city taxes for the fiscal year beginning July l, 1914. and that many times. owing to the lack of available funds and the charter prohibition against the issue of war rants where no funds are available, and the impossiblity of the city bor- rowing money because of having al ready exceeded the four per cent. all lowed by the Constitution of the State of Arizona, the citN was compelled to postpone and delay many needed ac- tiviticS and improvements, which oth- crwise could have been more promptly attended to.
 During the first half of the fiscal year beginning July l. 1914. the re- ccipts of the city were $111,155.S9 See Table No. , greater than for the cor responding period of 1913. This in- crease was due in part to the greater returns through the City Court from fines and fcrfeitures, and in larger measure to the increased attention giv- cn to the collection of fees and license taxes.
 For the first time in the history of the city, general city taxes have been made payable in semi-annual install mcnts. and only the first inStallment thereof became due and payable during ming July 1, 1914; whereas. in 1913. all city taxes were duo and payable during the said period.
 Today the City is on a cash basis for . the first time in it's eXistance. and on the first day of January, 1915. had cash on hand in the various funds amount ing to S256 501 09: and there was in the ! General Fund alone the sum of $S9. ] i376 And the city can expect to re- 1 cclvc during the second half of the iis- ! cal year beginning July l. 1914. q large amount additional from the fines and i forfeiturcs in the City Court, from the collection of license fees and from the ! second fnstallmcnt of general city i taxes
 ! The former city government by or dinance fixed the rate of charges to all users of water from the city water { works plant. under the present gov ! ernment the charges have remained the samc and the receipts therefrom have | been used to defray necessary expenses 1 and without using the receipts from the water works department for the nee l cssIry expenses of the city government : between the time the Commission took office and the first inStallmcnt of gen eral city taxes commenced to he paid ir this city coulG not have run. How ever. the city is now reasonably as i sured of sufficient moneys to meet all | demands upon the city treasury which can now be reasonably anticipated for | the rest of the present fiscal year and for the beginning of the following ifs cal year until general city taxes for said fiscal year will be available. without ! itlhIl HIS IttItlbi So Hiltu doSlSidllN from the receipts from the city water works as heretofore. I believe that the city water works should be operated as d means of revenue only so long as il
 is absolutely necessary so to do. ant
 that as soon as possible the rates fol water should be reduced so that they would be DO greater than necessary tC cover actual cost of maintenance ant operation. costs of extensions, replace ments due to deprecation. interest upor the bonded indebtedness for the pur- pose of the same. and reasonabl, | sinking fund for the retirement of tn, water works bonds at maturity. In view of the Satisfactory condition of the city's finances at the prcsen
 time, with continuation of the presen policies and conditions. | believe tha
 for the next fiscal year both the liccns, ! taxes for the city and the rate of gen cral taxation can be materially reduced and l believe the time is ripe for d ma terial reduction in water rates, and l earnestly recommended that the rates to all users of water from the city Wa ter works be immediately reduced i twenty per cent.
 Respectfully submitted, w. A. PARISH.
 City Manager.