The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-23
ANNUAL BUDGET FOR
 CITY IS DRAWN UP BY THE COMMISSIONERS
The Three-MilI Tax Fund, Totalling S32O,OOO Will
 Relieve Burden

The city commission has prepared tho annual budget, wherein each department is proportioned it's annual allotment oi | money for the current year. and it is ex- pected that the complete data will be ir hand in few days, and that the city departments will then have had their share of the city's revenues assigned tc them.
 In view of the law, wherein it is plainly stated that this budget must be prepared not less than 30 days after Septemper 30, the heads of all departments have been
 busy for the past few days upon call of MT. Ward, and they have prepared
 their annual estimates. which have been
 filed with the city commission.
 It is stated that the s320,000 to be re- ceived from the 3-mll tax will relieve
 the burden felt for sometime, caring tor
 certain incidentais that do not come
 under the general fund heading. The en-
 tire budget for the coming year yill be approximately s1.75O,oo0, which will op-
 crate the city upon the present basis ir
 manner equal to the present expendi- lures.
 The city health department vii re- quire the sum of s4OO0o for the mainte. nance of that department, according tc an estimate prepared by Dr. J. D. Dowl- Ing, city health officer, which will bt presented to the city commission " Commissioner Hornady. as commissions, of health.
 Of this amount $s220 will go to the meat and milk inspection department, while for the health and sanitation depart ment there is set aside $26,62o. For op' erating expenses $516o is required. pr. Bowling states in his estimate ant communication to the commission tha the greater portion of the increase asked is for increase in salaries for the em ployes of the departments, he being O. the opinion that this was the proper thing to do. the increases being only
 small in practically every instance. PUBLIC LIBRARIES Carl H. Milan, director. has asked th' city commission to appropriate thu amount of S43S4 per month for the i'm provement and maintenance of the pres ent public library system, or a to.a
 amount of s51. 4os for the year. The re port recommends that . negro branci | be installed, auso at Pratt City and Norti Birmingham branch to augment th
 mate there Is 5000 per month for nev l books. Salaries are to be increased per cent. Other incidentals figure in th increased expenditures for the coming year, such as shelves. cards, cases ant | miscellaneous supplies.
 ] The report and estimate for anothe
 year contains the statement that tn
 use of the library has increased g pc cent.
 POLICE DEPARTMENT l Chief Martin Eagan of the police de partment asks that he be allowed t | increase his force by 25 men, in orde I that he may restore the much needle, l traffic squads from a. m. to D. nl l Another recommendation of the chiefs i that 25 Rambler bicycles be bought fo l the use of his department, replacini badly worn ones now in use. l A raise of s5 per month is asked 10 , the day desk sergeant, that the offic l furniture be replaced with modern equip I
 ineoleum, and the walls be painted. ELECTRICIAN RECOMMENDS
 w. H. Abernathy, superintendent of tn
 North Birmingham water and ligh plants, has submitted to the city com
 missioners his estimate of expenses fo
 the coming year, stating that the in
 crease over last year is due to the in crease i'll cost of materials.
 l Salaries for the light plant are esti mated at $6218, coal at S7504, repairs an,
 supplies at $3000. For the water plan
 salaries are listed at $2so0, supplies ant repairs $7,512.
 l MT. Abernathy, who Is also city cleo | trician, estimates the expenses of tn ] department of electrical inspection a 1 $490 per month.
 FIRE DEPARTMENT 1 Chief $. A. Middleton recommend that the city employ 21 additional mol as fremen and that an extra assistan | chief at salary of $125 per month |. added to the department, also that eigh substitutes be placed on he pay roll a I $60 per month, an additional mechanic a l $125 per month and that he make week 1 ly inspections of all motor appara -u | in the department.
 l The total recommendation asks tha l the salary pay roll be placed at $14645 : per month and that the departments expenses be listed at S2000 per month
 making total of $16645.75 per month.