The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-02
WORK ON BUDGET
CITY Commissioners Busy Max
ing Estimates for 1918.
No Chance To Lower Present
Levy, 1t Is Announced.
MAY RAISE IT A LITTLE
Increased Cost of Materials Big
Problem for Newland.
Tandy VIII Require Same
Amount as This Year.

IT'S budget making time at the city
hall.
W. H. WATSON. finance commission
er. today sent a letter to each mem
Der ( the city commission asking MIN
to submit by June l 5 estimates for the
1918 budgets and include the amounts
they will ask under both the general
and special funds.
A canvass of the different members
of the commission today disclosed the
fact that the city taxpayers cannot eX-
pect a reduction of the city levy when
for 1917 was 3 mills, or four mills Tor
the general fund and four mills for the
special fund If the levy waivers elth-
err way it will increase The increase
however. will be made only after every
possible means to keep it down with
out hampering the efficiency of city de
Dartments are exhausted, it was SAID
by Commissioner WATSON an others.
The levy of eight mills for 1917 rails
ed S229.693.37 for the general fund
and the same amount for the special
fund Approximately, SIC ono Will be
available for 1918 under az eight mill
levy as the city valuation increased
S2.OOO,OOO. The levy for raising the
general fund cannot he raised above
four mills. It is prohibited by law.
If any increase is made it Will have TO
be in the special fund levy which IS
not regulated.
NcwIand Needs Increase.
The 1917 budget of Frank NJ. New
land, water and lights commissioner,
,-,ised b,, +axation was S266OO Of
this amount $4,000 was for street
light operation and the remainder was
for the white way. Newland declared
today that his request for 1918 would
be increased probably several thou-
sand dollars because of the increased
cost of materials.
Outside of taxation, Newland for
1917 had "A waterworks budget of
$111.125. This amount is taken each
year from :he earnings of the depart
ment
~ w. G.. Taudy. street commissioner
asserted today that he would neither
lower nor raise his request, which for
1917 was $57.1OO. He will file with
WATSON a request for the same
amount for 1918. o
Wv. L. Porter, parks and health
Commissioner. has not yet found time
to work on his estimate. 1t is safe to
say he will not lower his estimate
under the one for 1917.
The Mayors Budget.
Mayor House has not announced
whether or not he will ask for an in
crease. One of the possible increases
for which he may ask would be an
amount sufficient for an increase for
members of the police force. Other
members of the commission today de-
clared they would support such an
item. Commissioner WATSON today
declared he would use every meant
possible to keep his estimate down to
where it was last year.
There is little chance that the bud
get for next year will be smaller than
for this year. said the finance COM
missioner today. ION the ether hand
i. as l always have done, will attempt
to keep it down to where it will not
increase the burden on the taXpay-
ers and at the same time not be
'stingy' with the different depart
ments. l think the other commissions
ers are with me as to that respect"
After tn budgets are submitted to
Commissioner WATSON he will as
semble them and then the commission
will go into conference and remodel
il to meet with their uniform views.