The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-09
INCOME Insufficient
TO MEET C|TY'S NEEDS.
Statement of Paymaster Shepherd In
dicatcs Money Must Be Bor-
rOwed from Banks.
BUT se4o, 900 FOR EMERGENCIES
Estimated Revenues for Year S4,25S,-
61S and Fixed Expenses $3,812,-
775.41-Intcrcst and Redemption
Takes Up Large Portion of Funds.

While many of the requests for APP
preparations are laudable in the opin-
ION OF officials of the city. they find
that their ingenuity in devising ways
to meet the ordinary everyday de-
mands of the city is taxed to the ut
most. During the last year there
were unforeseen Developments which
sent the city to the banks to borrow
money to meet current expenses and
to provide for improvements which
developed as necessary during the
year.
That the coming years regular ex-
penses are going to come SO close TO
the estimated revenues of the city
that there will be little to meet emer-
gencies is shown by statement COM
piled yesterday by City Paymaster
Charles E. Shepherd. That the city
will be compelled to borrow from
banks again this year appears evil
dent. Mr.. Shepherds statement
shows the estimated revenue Of the
city in the coming year will be $4,-
25S.61s, and the fixed expenses So
612,775.41. leaving a little more than
$4,000 for the numerous additional
Says Mr.. Shepherd. commenting on
the situation;
Fixed Charges Large.
Now there is scarcely any request
for an appropriation which is not
laudable, and so many that are alb
solutely necessary. 1t becomes a hard
task to Judge how to apportion the
cIty's income TO the best advantage.
After this has been done there is
more demand for appropriations; and.
forgetting that there is a limit to the
city's income, the citizens clamor for
the Council to pass them. Let us
nv1 ~
penditures for the year 1916. The
estimated revenue for the present year
was s4.25s.61s. OF this amount ST.
COZ, 12T94 was appropriated for in
terest and redemption and s690,Ss3
for school purposes. which does not
include school buildings provided for
by bond issues. making a total of
S1.693,0l0.94
Fixed annual charges of the city,
which include the fire and police de-
partments, care and maintenance OF
public buildings. gas and water de-
partments. health and street cleaning
departments markets and cemeteries.
charities and hospitals. electric de-
partment and Fairgrounds. salaries
and pay rolls amount TO sl,slS. T64.4 ~,
making the total fixed charges for the
present year s3.612.775.4l, which
leaves balance for all other pur-
poses of s6+5 sac 50. This small bal
ance has to cover multitude of APP
preparations, too numerous 10 men
ton here, and as its elasticity has a
limit ii finally reaches the breaking
point. which results in forcing the
Committee on Finance to borrow mon
ey. and borrowed money has to be
paid back with interest. 1t may be
we'll to note In passing that for Ase,-y
million dollars borrowed by the city
in the form OF a bond issue the city
pays back In addition to the princi-
pal. the sum OF s1.360.0e0 in interest
charges. which ia rather an expensive
method OF obtaining money.
How Plans Fell Down.
Last year the Committee on FL
nance went on record in favor OF a
resolution 70 stand by the budget APP
preparations. No department was to
have one cent more than the budget
appropriation. II was to be economy
year No salaries were to be raised.
There were to be no appropriations,
except in emergencies. The city debt
was to be cut down. Then what hap
penedr The merchants tax decision
put a crimp IN the citys income and
the Committee on Finance had to
make up the deficit. There are those
who claim that there could he more
economy In running the city govern
ment
They may be correct. 7 don't
know, but Of this / am quite sure.
that the Committee on Finance, the
Administrative Board. the Council
manic bodies and all others who d.
rectly or indirectly dispense the City's
revenue and shape it's policies, would
be more than pleased to receive sug
gestions as TO how the government
should he run. and especially how to
meet the many and varied needs of
the city without increasing the sources
of revenue. Criticism, whether hon.
est or otherwise. Is of no value I'M
less il provided a remedy. Someone
has said that he who critiCiZes. be
he ever so honest. must suggest a
practical remedy. or he descends from
the height of a critic to the level OF
a common GROWER.