Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-07-30
BUDGET SYSTEM
PROVIDED FOR IN
PACE s NEW BILL


before this general assembly and one
that is bound to elicit serious atten-
tion from the people of Georgia, was
introduced in the house Friday by
Representative Stephen Pace, of this
county
The bill proposes to adopt the bud
get system for Georgia, a system that
has been tried in England from Tina
immemorial and which is already in
successful operation in a number of
states It's adoption was urged by Gov
ernor Dorsey in his inaugural address
and subsequent message to the legis-
lature.
Instead of the haphazard and dis
connected method of raising revenue
and making appropriations, now in
vogue, a system or rather, absence of
system, which has been very embar
RAISING to governors and has several
times brought the state to the verge of
temporary bankruptcy. Mr. Pace pro-
poses to link together income and out
go, sa that at no time it may be pos
sible for appropriations to exceed an
ticipated revenue.
What Bill Acc0mplishes.
To accomplish this, the bill pro-
poses:
First, the creation OF an efficiency
and economy commission, composed
of the governor as chairman, the at
torney general, the comptroller gem
eral, the state treasurer and the state
auditor of public accounts, an office
created by the bill
"a Second then on or before the tenth
day of each legislative session said
commission shall prepare and the gov
ernor shall submit to each house
"a state budget of estimated revenue
and recommended expenditures for the
ensuing fiscal year"
Third, that said budget shall contain
a statement of the total assessed
debt and interest charged thereon, to-
tai receipts and expenditures for the
past four years, detailed and summar-
lied estimate of revenue for the ensu-
ing fiscal year, classified as to sources:
total expenditure of the state during
the previous fiscal year, classified as
to each department and institution; a
complete plan of proposed eXpendi-
lures for the ensuing year. measures
Of taxation to increase the states rev.
enue; statement of assets, liabilities,
reserve and surplus or deficit; state>
ment of balance between proposed ex-
penditures and estimated revenue; eX-
plantations of increased or decreased
appropriations and other necessary in
formation.
Budget Public Document.
Fourth, that said budget shall be a
public document printed and copies
furnished members of the legislature,
the press, public Libraries and given
such other publicity as the governor
may see fit to direct
Fifth, that the said efficiency com
mission shall present to the governor
and he to the legislature a bill or bills
to be known as budget bills, which
shall be delivered to the presiding Of
ficer of the house and referred by him
t. the appropriations committee, and
Immediately introduced by the chair
man of said committee
Sixth, that said efficiency and econ
cmy commission shall not recommend
appropriations in excess of estimated
revenue, and where additional appro-
priations are deemed necessary, said
commission may suggest plans for
raising such additional revenue.
Seventh, that in case the general as
sembly appropriate funds for any fis-
cal year in excess of the revenue for
said year, the governor is authorized
made for such year, whether contained
in the budget bills or supplementary
appropriation bills, keeping in view
the relative importance and need Of
each appropriation so made
Eighth that the legislature shall not
consider other appropriation bills un-
Z, said budget appropriation bills have
been finally acted upon and that every
supplementary appropriation bill shall
be embodied in separate bill limitei
to one object or purpose.
Ninth, that said budget appropria-
ticn bills shall, until third reading and
Continued on Page Ffye)