The sun., 1916-08-20

Preparation Of the annual city budget
for the coming year. 1917, Ii being made.
The charter specifies that II shall be APP
proved or reduced by the Board Of AL
dermen M that preliminary public hear
ings shall be held at which taxpayers
shall have opportunity TO express their
views as to the proposed expenditures.
Comptroller Prcndergast has extended
an invitation to the Advisory Council of
Real Estate Interests and other bodies
to attend these hearings. The Advisory
Council will make a most careful study
of the proposed estimates from the va
rlous city departments with the purpose
, OF suggesting reductions.
For several years past. Comptroller
Prcndergast has published a series OF
budget news bulletins. Within the next
few days bulletin No. 1 OF the series OF
1916 will be issued. wherein will he set
forth clearly the methods pursued In the
preparation and and adoption Of the tax
budget. The Comptroller has written
"A brief account OF budget preparation.
II is customary for the head 81 each
city bureau or department TO prepare
estimates Of his requirements for the
ensuing year. Thee departmental esti-
mates are examined and analysed by the
bureau Of standards with regard to per-
scnal service. by the bureau OF contract
] SuDeTNlslDn N1tn TeSaTu- ~ ttt INV
than personal service and by the COM
mittee on education OF the Board OF Hsti-
mate and Apportionment with regard to
education and libraries. These bureaus
are assisted by the Commissioner OF Ac-
counts and the bureau of municipal in
vestlgation and statistics.
After the estimates are compiled. dates
are fixed and advertised in the ,ty
Record foS preliminary hearings before
the subcommittee on tax budget. OK
which Robert u. Mcintyre IL chairman.
when taxpayers have "A direct oppor
tunity to question the department heads
themselves. Protests are referred to the
main committee IN tax budget. which
consists OF the Comptroller. chairman.
the President OF the Board of Aldermen
and the Presidents of Brooklyn and The
Bronx. who present n tentative budget
for adoption by the full Board y. fs''-
mate and ApportionInent. This tentatiye
budget Is printed for public distribution
in the latter part OF october and public
hearings are held then by the full board.
The budget as definitely adopted must
be transmitted TO the Board ~ .Alt. e
men not later than October 81. Items
not made mandatory by State law may
be reduced. but No Increases can be made.
Action must be taken in twenty days.
but all changes are subject to the veto
OF tne Mayor. Wlscn can De ONerrluuen
by n thrce-fourths vote. During the
month OF February following the budget
is transmitted by the Comptroller to the
Board of Aldermen. All property except
special franchises taxable for local pur-
poses is assessed In the meantime by the
Department Of Taxes and Assessments.
and on March I of each year the assess
ment rolls Of real and personal property
for the calendar year are presented to the
Board OF Aldermen. The Board o: AL
dermen determines the tax rates and on
or before March IS, delivers the rolls 10
the Receiver OF Taxes. directing the Re-
ceiver to collect the taxes.
The budget is financed principally by
means of tie taxation of real estate, real
estate of corporations, speci'l franchises
and personal property.
The tax levy. based upon the assessed
valuation and the tax rates. AZ fixed,
never amount 10 the total budget. This
is due TO the fact ehat certain revenues
collected by various city departments
each year are credited to an account
called tho general fund - the city for
the reduction OF taxation" The chief
items of this general fund are: ~lnteres,
on taxes ard assessments, = hool moneys
from me S'..t" OF $.'v vnrf. haui 'nN.
liquor excise tax. surplus revenues Of the
sinking fund FOR IN" redemption of city
debt No. l." and transfers OF uneXpended
balances in appropriation and specia'
revenue bond fund accounts of previous
yeats. FIom May II. 1919. and in sr',.
sequcnt years this fund will also receive
50 per cent. of motor vehicle fees,