Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-11-30
BUDGET OF CITY
LEAVES SOME CASH
Lower Tax Rate and More
Funds Available at Begin
ming of Fiscal Year
FIXED CHARGES CALL
FOR BIGGEST AMOUNT
Income Tax Will Make Possible Les
ser Rate and Give City Increased
Receipts for 1918

With a tax rate quarter per cent
| lower than last year and with bonds
and interest Of 5000 more than in
| 1917, the city council will start off
the new year, with more money ac-
tually available than for the past five
years. While it was necessary to bor-
row $4,000 on short time notes from
| the banks to carry the city this year
| in anticipation of the 1918 receipts, yet
| the city can pay this and still begin
with over six thousand dollars in the
| treasury. This is the best showing
made for a long period. While the
assessed valuation is higher yet the
reduced rate from 3H to 8 per cent,
does not bring but $4,000 more reve-
nue. than last year. 1t is the income
tax which makes it possible, with
economical administration, to get on
with less rate.
Making Up Budget
The council spent most of last week
working out the budget for 1913. 1t
is no small task to trim and cut and
still not be niggardly or neglect any
thing needed Here are items which
cannot be lessened.
The levy brings in total of $61,-
66673 The budget has in it these
items which cannot be lessened:
Bonds and interest due in 1915.
* $500 90
Schools -....... .-..--.- ..---..- 80. 277OO.OO
Library ----...- l5oo.oo
Water hydrant tax. 100000
Total outside General
fund ........ - ~ 37100.00
The salary roll is $4,S1O. 1t is made
up of. Mayor, $500 council $500;
treasurer, $4O0 clerk, $3.50; assessor,
5000; city attorney, $3.50; police
$500; health officer, $3.50.
What it Costs
Other expenses which come out of
the general fund are payment on the
chemical for the fire department,
$4OS; light and power charge, approx
imately, $4,000; telephone, $114; fuel,
estimated $3.50; sprinkling, $329S3.
Add to this $4,000 borrowed by the
city to meet current bills for the past
six months or more and with the sal
aries there is:
Funds other than general
... ........ ..$3710000
Salaries at present
ahoa,,,o A91OOO
/ Other city fixed expenses 5SO1.S3
Borrowed from banks in
1917 .......- 16OOo.OO
Total expenses against
income ........ - 49,. 63711.83
Total income to be raised by taxa
ton Of 3 per cent on a valuation OF
So. .O55. .591 is SCI, ,66G73. Therefore
there is an apparent deficit on the in
come from taxation of $2,04510. But
the city will receive an amount be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 in tax from
incomes this year. This added to the
income from the taxes will bring the
receipts up to $4,000.
Will Borrow Less
That leaves the city with only $6,-
2SS17 to carry on the business of the
municipality for the coming year, but
it is more than there has been avail
able in five years. The council fig
ures it will not be necessary to borrow
more than $4,000 in anticipation Of
1919.
If streets are paved, and there Is
great need of pavement in the business
section, bonds for the purpose will be
| issued
Some action will be taken too, be-
| fore the next assessment, to see that
| the valuation of the county and city
is equalized. AS it is, the county as
sesses taxes on valuation $233,OO0
greater than the city, which looks
thoroughly inequitable. Either the
city is too low or the county too
| high.