The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-01
S77,000 CUT IS MADE BY COMMISSIONERS
 IN EXPENSES OF
 RUNNING THE CITY
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all departments, and conveys the ideas of the head of the city government of Birmingham in clear and distinct man ner The letter follows:
 November 30, 1917. To the Honorable Board of Commission CTS of Birmingham:
 Gentlemen: T beg to submit herewith, for your consideration revised budget for. the fiscal year beginning October 1. 1917, and ending September 90, 1918, together with q few recommendations and sug- gestions which occur to me at this time. The budget may appear drastic, and in comparison to that of our predeces- sors 1t is But it must be borne in mind that the beginning of the fiscal year of 1916 our predecessors had in the city 1 treasury available for operating expenses a balance of $16s. 3097. Our administra- tion not only inherts an empty treasury,
 but also q deficit of s2y7.071 which burden we are compelled to assume in addition to the regular and necessary operating expenses of the city.
 1 I know you gentlemen fully realize and 1 appreciate tho tremendous responsbil- | ties that rest upon us, and that your best thought and concerted action will
 be exerted to grappe with and overcome the gravity of tie conditions which conr front us during the initial year of our ad- mnistration.
 It has peen necessary. in compiling 1 this budget, to trim to the bone prac- tically' every department of the city. We ! may expect remonstrances and protests, especially from those departments which, | in less strenuous times, were practically, permitted to fix their own budget and so unbridled in their expenditures. MUST KEEP WITHIN INCOME l My best judgment has been used in preparing this budget. Tt may be possi- | a a on 10 aid do If servatism. but beg to call the attention | of you gentlemen to the fact that this l is the first time in the city's history that | a governing body had had put squarely
 up to it the proposition of not spending l 1 cent above that received as revenue | for the fiscal year that the budget op-
 crates Deprived of bank balance at the beginning of business and with a "vouchers payable account of $107S64.S8, we would be derelict in our duty if we did not use every precaution and tighten the grip on every possible and prospec- tive expenditure, keeping in mind, Of course, the giving to the citizens of Bir- mingham that service which they have a right to expect of their governing body.
 l Under the law, we can, if deemed proper or expedient, revise our budget | from time to time. A decision in the Mcdonald case may make this neces- | | decision or elsewhere, not now discern 1 able, we must arrange the city's af- | fairs with the lights at present be- | fore us.
 The adoption of this budget, as you ] gentlemen will observe, will make neces- sary the elimination of many places now being filled by competent and faithful employees. This is one of the
 most deplorable features connected with
 any policy of extreme retrenchment, but | I feel sure that those who, under the l official connection with the city admin istration. will have but little difficulty in securing equally or better remunera- tive employment in other fields of activ- ity.
 In submitting this revised budget, l desire to call your attention to- the fact that have, in the departments directly under my supervision reduced the op- ! erating expenses by the sum of $S7700S per annum, and this without appreciably llmpairing the efficiency of the depart ments affected
 I recommend that we immediately transfer the garbage and junk collecting department of the city to the depart ment of streets. and that all junk col lected be deposited in the city's ware
 house and there stored until a sufficient
 lquantty has been accumulated to bring
 Ia fair and reasonable price. I further
 suggest that the city purchasing agent
 nave entire custody lnd Gssposal O. al. unk and that he dispose of same by
 sale to the highest bidder.
 II l also recommend that the city from
 and after this date, eliminate the main
 tenance, repairs and replacements of
 privately owned automobiles. This item
 has been and is making tremendous