The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-11-07
Big Deficits Likely To Exist
In Three Of The De-
partments
AN INSUFFICIENT
LEVY THE CAUSE
Solution Lies In Certificates
Of Indebtedness
Council News

/ w
continues, three departments of the
city will, by Jan. 1, 1917, be in debt
S5,69022, according to report made
to council at the recessed meeting
Thursday night by City Auditor II. G.
Gates. OF this amount, $4,S2d.39 will
be in the public service department.
Auditor Gates had prepared the re-
| port to present at the end OF the
month of September but, owing to a
three-week adjournment taken by the
body, it was not heard until Thursday
evening. He stated, however, that
the same condition still existed and
would continue to- exist unless re-
| trenchments were made. No action
was taken by council on the report.
1t follows:
Safety Department
The balance on hand Jan. 1, 1916,
was $3,255.70. Receipts were S6,516.-
O3 and expenditures $7,9O003, leaving
a balance Oct. 1 of $1,871.70. The ex-
penditures in only nine months OF
the year exceeded the receipts. The
average monthly expenditure has
been $877.7S. Applied to the year, a
debt of $761.64 will exist on Jan. 1.
Health Department
This fund was oyerdrawn $62.39 at
the beginning of the year. Receipts
have been S2,O31.13 and expenses
! $1,55319, leaving a balance of $1,615.-
So. The average monthly expense
has been $172.5S which, applied to
the balance of the year, would mean
an Indebtedness of $1O219.
Service Department
There was balance of $777.21 at
the start of the year. Receipts have
been $1i,771,7O and expenses $751;
2Sl.49, leaving balance of 1867. .43.
The average monthly settlement has
been $1,69794. This department will
oe in debt, on this basis, $4,S26,39.
SITUATION SERIOUS
Auditor Gates directAd attention to
the fact that practically all the pos
sible receipts for the year are now in
and that expenses are continuing.
He stated that the health appro-
priation next year would not be
enough to pay even the salaries of
the officers, as this has been reduced
from $4,000 to $1,000.
The street lighting bill for Ooto-
ber, amounting to over $500, has yet
to be paid. There are no funds avail
able, nor will there be any until next
March.
THE CAUSE
Auditor Gates told a reporter oi
The Banner after the meeting that
J this situation has been caused by an
: insufficient levy in view of the great
: number of improvements which are
, in progress in the city.
He stated that, out of justice ts
the service department, 1t should b'
I noticed that the appropriations by
y the budget committee for this partic
ular branch of the city's activities
) exceeded the levy by $4,000 and tha
L Director Snow, until recently, hat
labored under the impression that III
had $4,000 more available than wa
actually the case.
THE OLD INDEBTEDNESS
I. Auditor Gates spoke of the fac
e that the city was forced to issue Ger
t, tihcates of Indebtedness IN th
!, amount of $4,000 several years ag,
&. to meet conditions similar unto thes
g, now existing. He pointed out that
e. when improvements are undertaken
" lot of money is eaten up by interes
~ on bonds, together with the city
he share of the expense. lie stated tha
It. the only solution would be to issu,
1; another batch of certificates of in
le debtedness.
oy WALK TO BE FIXED
Xt Robert S. Porter appeared befor
on council, asking that the boardwall
he on East Vine street from Center Rul
ed to Robert Champions home be place
N, in decent shape He brought fort
that 1t Is dangerous to walk upon tn
boards in daytime, let alone night
M that five people have been injure
n from falls and that all except on
person, whom he has not seen. fave
us the installation of suitable sid'
Isl walk
lie also brought out that there