Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-05
REVISED BUDGET IS
ADOPTED BY COUNCIL
Appropriation Ordinance Is Reduced
So as to Avoid Increase in
General Tax Rate.

Appropriation Ordinance Is Reduced
So as to Avoid Increase in
General Tax Rate.
CITY HALL PETITION TABLED
Goes Over to April Meeting in Or
der That Election Can BE Held on
Day OF General Election in June.
Special Tax on Pleasure Autos.
Rchmond's revised 1918 budget or
dinance. carrying appropriations of
s4,3S6.977.25, as reported by the Com
mittec on Finance. was adopted last
night By the Common Council with
only slight discussion. The measure
Will go TO the Board of Aldermen for
concurrence on March IL. and the
funds allotted the various departments
made available at once. The Council.
without objection. tabled until its April
meeting the ordinance calling spc
cial charter election. This action was
taken to delay the consideration OF this
matter until the general election in
June
AS reported by the Finance Commit
tee. the revised budget appropriates
the sum OF s4.3S6.977.2o, as compared
with 81 55.o57.26 contained in the orig
inal ordinance. With this substantial
reduction, no increase in the tax rate
Of the city was found necessary. APP
propriations to the various departments
were reduced, while the price Of water
was scaled SO as to provide additional
revenue for the city. The committee
also reported an ordinance levying a
tax of % cents per horse power on all
automobiles used for pleasure. There
was no Increase in the price OF gas TO
consumers.
PROVIDES INCREASE FOR ALL
EMPLOYEES AT $500 OR LESS
Councilmen Peters and English found
several items In the budget TO which
they were opposed. but, rather than
delay the measure. the passage OF which
Is urgently needed. they supported the
ordinance. Councilman Rose voted
against the measure, however because
the salaries OF the captains in the Fire
Department were not increased in COM
parison with captains in the Police
Department. and because several other
advances OF more than 10 per cent had
been made in one or two departments
The budget contains the 10 per cent
increase in salary to al! city employees
receiving $500 annually or less, in
Guiding school-teachers. and members
of the Council made it plain that
teachers III every instance should re-
cejve the increased salary. With this
exception there are few changes in the
new budget other than the reductions
i,I, ytrQ G
recommitted by the Common Council
for 4 public hearing.
slANT REDUCTION MADE
IN STREET APPROPRIATION
After the series of meetings the COM
mittee summoned various city officers
before il, with the result that appro-
priations TO many departments were
reduced These reductions. resulting
in a smaller budget, were as follows:
streets generally. from $4,000 to
500, 900: decrease of sl0S26 in the
school Board pay roll; $1,000 for City
Form at Pine Camp; S1,500 to Virginia
Mechanics' Institute: $4,000 expenses of
Police Department.; $4,000 School Board
expenses: s13,123 to sidewalks; $4,000
to Gas Works; s2.5oo to mains; $4,000
TO water, anu SlO.uoO " osh~A
in streets. There were also several
other small Items which were reduced.
Members Of the Finance Committee
explained that the saving OF S'S'ooo
TO the Gas Works was possible because
the Administrative Board beiieVed IL
could reduce expenses to that extent,
which made it possible 10 continue gas
at so cents per 100 cubic feet IL
In
became such as to make 1t necessary
the Council at that time could advance
the price. This would not occur. they
said, If the estimates Of the board
held true. While the city will sell its
gas at so cents. estimates including
fixed charges to the plant, place the
estimated cost at SO cents this year.
READJUSTMENT Is
MADE IN WATER RATES
The readjustment OF water rates,
which reduced from II to 10 cents per
1000 cubic feet the price 10 small
consumers and places charge rang
ing from to 10 cents on tho whole
sale consumers. will increase the city's
revenues approxima tcly $4,000. ac-
cording to estimates furnished the
committee by the Administrative
Boaru. NO lHcrease III lHe merchuutS
license tax was recommended. since
il was believed that the increased cost
of stock. upon which merchants pay,
would result in increased revenues.
The revised budget approprintcs
81, ,000,Ao2 on account of the city's debt.
as provided in the original measure.
There Is allotted s2,641.604 to the gen.
eral government OF tho city and ST.
45,372.73 TO departments under tho
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