The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-11

oily treasurer, and aSoliHhmert Of Do-
lice court ca the Southside. saving the
city en- toto S47,I50.
The aggregate reduction Of these
changes would total more than $780,
coo per anuum.
To Increase the Revenue.
In the matter Of the Increase OF reve-
nue., The board states that there is a
crying need Of revision Of the state
reveuue laws to make them equitable
70 cities. counties. and state alike. and
suggests that. the revision be made
jointly by representatives from each OF
these branches Of the government
The present licensing and taxing Of
business interests in the city cannot be
increased, but there can be further
revenue derived from municipality
owned public utilities. The rate for
gas service can and must be Increased
y the department is TO continue self
supporting. Revenue may further be
increased. states the board by charg-
ing for electrical inspection work in
private houses by charging a minimum
gas bill Of nftv cents to the consumer,
by charging n fec for furnishing line
aud grade data to owners of private
property for construction of buildings
- charging fees for plumbing iuspec-
tiou. and also charging fee for vital
statistics and by requiring payment
Of annual fees for food and dairy per-
-444+4s, the taH4-thFee- hrtrfr connected
with the health department These
would total yearly Apr Ultimately sfs.-
roo.
Ia addition 10 these SOURCES further
increases may he made by additional
CHARGES for the maintenance OF burial
plots 80 that the cemeteries may be-
come eelf-supportlng. by charging fees
for building permits. by charging fees
for the privilege of storing material
the street. and several other meth
ods detailed by e he survey.
tnearned increment.
a tai on uneaTue& increment though
not received with favor by many OF
the Southern cities is nevertheless
urged by the board which tax would
bring in an enormous amount OF reve-
nue.. Whethsr or not this tax would
violate the uniformity OF property tax
atien AZ provided fer In tho state cen
sLibAtipn L.. still 3, question ~
Standardization Of stationery and ar
economic use Of the same. Il ia stated
'ould show an Improbable decrease in
expenditures
The fact that the country Is at war
i9 taken into consideration and ali pos
sihle expenditures except for the bars
maintenance of the vital departments
ATE III sed to be decreased to the mini
lg,uR,
Richmond's Budget
The only requirement as 10 the
tndgft in Richmonds charter is that
the auditor shall annually submit to
the Administrative board during the
flonth Of January a report of the estj-
mates necessary to defray the expenses
Of the city government during the sue
ceeding fiscal year" 1t Is stated when
the budget shall be submitted TO the
council or when J. shall be passed or
adopted In some cases the budget has
not been adopted and signed by the
mayor until February and as late as
March There is nothing in the charter
10 prevent the lapse of months before
It's adoption In this interim the coun-
Ell adopts resolutions authorizing the
payment ~ salaries on the same basis
as for the previous year The charter
ia silent on The authority Of the coun-
cil ~ d this
According to The report OF the tu-
reau tho auditor and clerk OF the
nnance committee sends along IN De.
cemher to the head Of each department
asking for an estimate OF the needed
appropriations for the coming year
The auditor then prepares a summary
~ these departmental estimates and
submits il to the council IN January.
Fnvorw Execptfxe Committee.
TIE bureau OF municipal research ad-
voeates an executive budget system
and recommends "A revis ton of the char
ter whereby the department estimates
Will be submitted To the mayor and
be thoroughly considered by him and
revised II necessary before they are
taken TO the council, when It Is pre-
sented to the council the mayor as a
part Of his administrative duty will
'defend II on the floor OF the council
for showing separately each class OF
expenditures; "a Expenses incurred
during the two preceding years, 90
expenses incurred to date during the
current wear. go estimated expenses
for the ensuing year, 90 increases and
decreases between the amounts for
these different years
ThH estimates In the preceding years
have shown considerable detail with
regard 20 salaries. bat requests for ap.
propriations have usually been punched
In lump sum amounts For instance
IN 1917 tho appropriation for the street
cleaning department was $50. and
that OF the city home $40, 900. the Viz
sinia hospital. S35. 600. etc, These
should be detailed. says the board in
order that the mayor may have ade-
quate basis for Judgment In determin-
ing the amounts to he appropriated FOR
b''9 ensuing year Inc Ahuit"r Hors NOT
keep such u detailed account of the
distribution Of these expenditures, but
records them according to appropria-
ton titles, md dope nds on the depart
ments 20 keep record Of the expendi-
tures The adopcio OF standard
classification for all hese expenditures
Of this government Is urged by the hu-
reau
Restrictions en Spending.
Relative 20 restrictions on spending.
the ordinance on this question restricts
the expenditures OF the first six months
20 one~half Of the total appropriations
prohibiting the use OF expense appro.
sF kstisns ter salaries. wages. eta. Hevs