El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-01-27
Fl PASO ENTERS MILLIONAIRE
CLASS IN ITS BUDGET FOR 1877
Largest Single Item of Municipal Expense for Schools
S295 O8O54 Police Department Requires S113,70O;
Garbage Collection Needs $4,000; Tax Rate Five
Cents Higher But Lower Than in 1914

~ PASO as city entered the
millionaire class the first OF 1917,
IL when the years budget Of prob
able expenditures TO keep the wheels
of government well oiled was adopted
by she city council Mayor Lea and
the aldermen estimate that the actual
expense will be sLO35.317.02. which is
So. $3.50. more than the 1916 budget
appropriated
The big single item of maintenance
expense Is S255.0SO-o4 for the schools
For the protection OF sinking Iund
and interest on indebtedness. $780,
OzO.9. is called for. The general eS-
pense Will total SfSJ,2l5-56-
Confronted with the necessity Of
providing more money for the opera
ton Of the fast growing school sys-
tenn, which demand was vigorously
brought before the council by the
board Of education several weeks ago
the mayor and aldermen have declared
they had no option but to increase the
rate of taxation five cents per 500
assessed valuation over last year This
causes the rate to be S1.S5 per 500
Hope was held out during the summer
that the rate would be lowered, but
the mayor in his New Years message
said: Il have endeavOred to keep
down estimated expenses as low as
possible, but ] have not clipped
amounts in such q way that any de-
partment will find itself held up in
its work of Improvement through lack
Of funds. Growing rapidly as Fl Paso
is il is bound TO cost us an added
amount to keep up with this growth,
and false economy IS something 1 feel
We should shun-"
Tax Rate Lower Than in 1914.
On total assessed valuation or
property in the city Of S50.012.66O. the
taxes to be collected viii amount TO
Sq25.31402. Indirect revenue will total
I a "a 4 Of
This is all scheduled for disbursement.
The rate of taxation is still one cent
lower than II was in 1914 II has been
higher in all years since 1906 except
1907. 1905 and 1915. Due to the won
derful advance in building and COM
mercial development in the city dur
ing the past two years. the present city
administration has been enabled 10
raise the total assessed valuation OF
property more than Sl0,OOo,OeO- The
increase in taxable values during
1916 was estimated at about S4,eSesUO0.
Expenditures for 1917.
The 1917 expenditures will be made
according TO the customary budget, the
principal items Of which are the foI'
lowing
LEGISLATION and general admin
istration ---..-.-------..-.- 5os5-7.vY
Protection Of life and prop $500.
Health conservation and saui-
tatiSu 49S.4Ae-vv
Highways (streets and side
walks - EAr1l---
Charities and corrections 1890 ls-aSV-y
Education public library 1890 s-0e-v9
Recreation and parks -.--..--- S4ssV-Vy
Purchasing department 1890. 455O-ee
Notes. interest, etc ---....-.- 9.9uv-yJ ,
Genital ou+la,- ... s.71S. 50
schools NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 335, 0SO 81
sinking frnd and interest $3.50. 7.020- s.
Total NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. si.os5. s17.O2
The distribution Of the tax rate is
as follows, Schools. A. cents on the
500: sinking fund and interest on in
debtedness. .4IS9 cents; general fund.
1861 cents. total, S1S5.
Mayors salary $4SOO-
OF the item for legislation and gen
eral administration OF S56.545 the
mayor and aldermen Will draw salaries
aggregating $4,000. The mayors pay
Will he $500 q month and that OF the
aldermen 5000 a month. The city
clerks salary account and expense OF
publishing ordinances reaches $1,000
Expenses Of elections are set at $500
Other items are City attorney. salary
and expense. $1,000 and litigation ex-
pense $500; city auditor, $40. salary