Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-07
Is the Budgets Economy Real?

MO one not intimately familiar with the
operations OF the city government is in
a position to say that the budget submitted
to Council by the Finance Committee on
Monday evening is not representative OF a
rgli economy. so far under our present
system it is possible TO effect economies
there are no authorized additions TO the per-
Sonnei ot the departments. no large increases
il salaries, and the appropriations for inn
proy"ments of all classes have been cut to
the hone
Whether the apparent economy is real de-
Ponds on questions of detailed operation. and
II Is 10 supply an answer to such questions
that . civic survey has been demanded by the
people of Richmond Richmond does not
desire a lessened departmental efficiency but
an enhanced efficiency. If departments and
bureaus can be consolidated and forces re-
duced. without impairment of service Rich
mond wants these consultations and rrduc-
to: made. 1t is strongly suspected that
this could and should be done; a survey by
experts of the New York Bureau Of Municipal
Research would point the way.
The budget makes no provision for rcduc-
ing the floating debt of the city. which now
amounts 10 more than 100000, Il part of
which is due to the banks and another part
10 the fund realized from the sale Of bonds
Tor specified public improvements. The
FINANCE Committee has pending an ordinance
u.
less there are unexpected additions to the
revenue, the further reduction or the floating
cent. under the budget as submitted will be
limited TO the unexpended portion of the
|l63.93S charter reserve for emergency APP
preparations. Experience docs not suggest
tha' this fund will give any great assistance
Last year the budget appropriated S2OO. 900
for The payment Of bank loans. and for
streets generally" S306.352; this year there
IS no appropriation for the repayment Of loans
ana the streets generally" appropriation is
reduced TO $4,000. 4 mere comparison
OF the two budgets, however does not at all
reveal the extent OF the reductions the
Finance Committee proposes to make, because
me budget for the year ending January =;
1915 was an altogether different proposition
IRON the actual expenditures for that year
While the budget amounted to S4.25S,l6S,
further appropriations in the course Of the
year increased outlay TO S5.133S2O Nor
was TINS all. for In addition to the budget
and I" the so-caled emergency appropria-
lions, there were further expenditures
other than from authorized bond issues. which
raised the grand total to SG.SSS993
II is true that many of these expenditures
were exceptional They were due, in large
part To the annexation OF n great strip of tor
riiory. and will not have to be repeated
vcrtelcss for Richmond to get along I'M
der existing conditions. with the money the
budget now pending provides would be ;,
ieat in financial legcrdcmain truly remark
able.
What is TO be done? Either there must
DC lurther tremendous reduction in the
operating expenses OF the municpali tv an
absolute halt on all public improvements or
an Increase in the tax rate l'ntil tho CITY
y permitted 10 assess abutting property for
street improvements there can be no other
course. rEe civic survey 50 generally do
mandcd, has become ii vital and COMPELLING
need
One OF these days there will be a school
for telephone manners, and about two-,hirds
OF the country will have To attend it,