The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-02-04

A
manager plan charter, to choose a
manager, and hold him responsible
for the efficient management of the
city's business. With a trained ex-
ecutive at the head of the city's bus
mess, with needed authority behind
him, and with the council to check
results of his administration, we have
the element sof an efficient machine
which certainly should give results in
the city's affairs.
The reason for having the manager
selected by the council rather than by
popular vote, is that the council is in
closer touch with the results that he
is getting, and the manager is re-
moved one step from political inf1u-
ence which would hamper his indie
pendence.
The cities that have tried this plan
of government are almost unani-
mourly pleased with it as is shown by
QUESTIONABLE which was sent by
the chamber of commerce of Steuben-
vile, Ohio, to about so of the city
manager cities, some time ago when
Stubenville had in mind the matter of
a change of. charter. The replies re-
ceived indicated on improvement of
81 per cent over the old conditions.
There are a number of other feat
ures of interest in the new charter
/ under which Ocala is now working, all
of which are intended to give the city
a more business like administration
of its affairs.
One of these is the, requirement Of
an annual budget, and the checks
provided to compel the council to adj
here strictly to the budget in its ex-
penditures.
The budget is nothing more than
an estimate of the coming years ex-
penses, and is based on the expense
of the past year, with additions for
any new improvement contemplated.
Under the old system the council was
allowed to make expenditures not
provided for in the budget, these
creating an Indebtedness for which
no funds had been provided, and con-
sequently floating debt. The history
of these floating debts shows that
they have morbid tendency to in
| crease from year to year, until it be-
came necessary to issue bonds to take
them up. This is bad financing, and is
impossible under our new charter, as
| it contains provision making it un--
lawful for the council TO spend mon
| ey, or to incur an Indebtedness, or
for the clerk to draw a warrant, un-
less the funds to meet such obliga-
ton are provided for, except that the
proposed expenditure may be made or
obligation created, by submitting the
of the city. This provision will COM
pei the council to be careful in pre-
pairing its budget, and will preserve.
the credit Of the city.
Another important provision of
the new charter, is that creating a
sinking fund commission, the neces-
sity for which is shown by the fact
that the city of OcaIa has an old
bond issue coming due this year for
which there has been provided no.
sinking fund. Now sinking fund is
nothing more than money provided
by taxation and set aside each year,
SO that at the maturity of the bonds,
there will be enough money to pay
them off.
The credit of a city, as an individ-
ual, depends upon its taking care of
its obligations promptly; and if its
credit is bad, and it wants to issue
bonds, it has to pay high rate of
interest in order to induce investors
to purchase them.
This provision of sinking fund
commission makes it mandatory that
this sinking fund be set aside, pro.
vides the way it shall be done, and
provides further for the investment
of money accommodating in this fund
in such securities as are more ap-
proved for savings banks, thus keep
ing it at work. This clause of the new
charter also provides for the payment
of the interest and the outstanding
bond issues, by the sinking fund
commission, thus taking out of the
hands of the council all discretionary
power, in matters pertaining to the
payment of principle and interest,
and providing sinking fund, for
OUTSTANDING DOilQ ISSUES, ana V6SIl12
these related matters in the hands of
the special commission created for
this purpose.
There are other and interesting
changes which we have reason to
think will result in benefit to our
city, but this paper is already too
long.
In closing, wish to say word in
defense of the much abused city coun-
Gilman. To my mind, there is nothing
more pitiable in our public life today,
than the suspicion and SANDER, and
abuse which are so often the only re-
ward of faithful and conscientious
public service. Tt is nothing more |
than a desire to be fair and just to
this unappreciated official and to |
speak for him more consideration at |
the hands of the public, that prompts
me to say word in his behalf. |
know nothing except by report OF
conditions as they exist in the large
cities hut / do know nv rarsoI,aI |