Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-11-22
Effort to Be Made at LegisIa-
ture to Have City Detached
From BernaliIIo and Made
Into New County
WATER DEPARTMENT is
SHOWN TO BE LIFE SAVER
Plan to Isolate Urban PopuIa-
ton Entirely From ReSponS-
ibiIiy for County Finances
Likely to Fail

1t is now certain that the legislature
will be asked to create county COM
posed entirely of the city of Albuquer-
que.
Also it is practically certain that
the Legislature will not grant the re-
quest, but it is likely that some relief
will be allowed this city, similar prob
ably to the legislation enacted for the
benefit of East Las Vegas.
While it is true that a large per-
centage of the money spent in Ber-
nalillo county is contributed by the
taxpayers of Albuquerque, there are
those who lose sight of the fact that
practically every dollar received by
the people of the county from what
they produce on the farms and ranch
es is spent in Albuquerque. The coun-
ty roads all lead to Albuquerque and
the county schools are making future
citizens who will contribute to the
prosperity of Albuquerque.
City Faces Big Deficit.
That there will be a deficit of APP
proximately s36,913.37 in the city
treasury on December 81, 1918, is in
dicated by the facts and figures avail
able at the present time at the city
hall. The deficit may be even larger,
due to the fact that it has cost the
city a large sum of money to fight
the Spanish Influenza epidemic, and
because police court receipts have
dwindled to practically nothing since
October l, when the saloons ceased to
do business.
1aheFitinE from former adnllfamra- J
tions on December 4, 1917, deficit of
approximately $25,72014, the city
commission has passed through the
fiscal year with the prospects of an
additional deficit in the general fund
of $11,193.23. The addition deficit for
the year 1918 has been caused first,
by the payment of number of obli-
cations that were assumed by former
administrations and which have been
paid in full or in part by the commits
sion; second, by the loss of approXi-
mately $500 from liquor licenses;
third, by the loss of approximately
$4,000 in police court fees, the result
of prohibition.
Other City OutIays.
Other important factors in connec-
ton with the explanation of the anti
cipated deficit are the expenditures
incident to the completion of the city
hall, the reflooring of the Coal avenue
viaduct, material for which has been
purchased and is now in Albuquerque,
and the decrease in the purchasing
power of the dollar in connection with
the hiring of teams, laborers, buying
of equipment and supplies.
The city commissioners are face to
face with the problem of raising adj
ditional revenue for The city during
the coming fiscal year. Strenuous eff
to 10 nd
a deficit for 1918. But two and two
max four in city finances as in the
finances of an individual The figures
in red on the city books, made by ex-
pert accountants, are sufficiant evil
dence of the existence of the fact that
the city has been operated at a loss
during the last twelve months. 1t isl
realized that the deficit is condition.
and that no blame attaches to any
one for it's existence.
Water Saves City Finances.
The water department of the city
has proved a lifesaver in the present
situation. During the emergency thel
gross profits of the water department
are being used to pay current obliga4
tions. 1t is realized by the commits
sioners that as matter of sound bus
mess, the profits of the water depart
ment should be placed in a separate
fund for the purpose of paying the in
terest on the 100000 of water bonds
and of establishing sinking fund for
the ultimate retirement of that bond
issue. The proposition is as broad as
it is long. however The people pay,
through taxes, in any event for the
operation of the municipal govern
ment, whether it be through the pay
ment of taxes for general purposes, or
for the specific purpose OF paying in
terest on bonded debt and for estab-
fishing a sinking fund for the pay
ment of bonds at maturity. For the
year 1919 the property owners will be
required to pay taxes for the payment
by the city of interest on the water
bonds. Careful financing. it is be-
Iisved. will result in the early elimi-
nation of the water bond levy. An in
crease in the limit for general fund
purposes, however, will be an abso-
Lutte certainty as soon as the necessary
law, providing for such increase hasI
(Continued on Page Two.)