Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-22
A|NSL|E PRESENTS
1919 CITY BUDGET
Recommends Special Tax, of S
Mills for Benefit of
Schools.
WOULD RAISE LEVY TO S2.15
Mayor Suggests Schools Operate
by Separate Fund to Make
|: Up Deficit.
RAISE LEVY TO S2.15

Mayor AinSlie last night presented
his budget for 1919 20 the Board OF
Aldermen at the special meeting called
for that purpose. The Mayor recon-
mcnds a solution of the city's nnau-
cial difficulties that the public schools
be removed from the budget and the
amounts thus saved be distributed 20
other departments. He then recon-
mends that "A special tax Of . mills be
levied FOR the benefit OF the schools
The effect Of the recommendations
If adop;cd would be to raise tile ciiy
tax rate from si,G3 10 S2.I5.
In his message the Mayor declares
lures which he thinks should be GOV
cred by an issue "f boudS. and that
i!is suggestions in this regard viii
be made when the budget is finally
adopted.
CurilGs he PRINTED
When the budget was presented Al
dernan Gunst said:
Ail Of US realize ;hat we are up
against very serious proposition in
regard TO finances. In order to up
hold the hands Of the MAYOR, and
ether members want 10 be thoroughly
convcrsant with the budget. and
there fore move tina; IL be printed and
COPIES given to the members OF the
Board OF Aldermen and the Common
Council.
Alderman Nunnaliy declared that he
i
ing the budget before the Finance
Committee had completed ii. as many
changes would be made
Alderman Pul!er said:
Il think the tentative budget. being
the iirsi under the new government.
should be printed. This is the FIRST
time that the stop. Look and Listen:
policy has been applied 10 tho city
government. The members Of the
Board and Common Council ough; to
have copies. and after reading them
u L. -, :.
tee and express their views"
NUNHtLIi TO OPPOSE
INCREASED SCHOOL TAX
Alderman Nunna!ly then suggested
budsct. In reply to this Alderman
y don't think the newspapers would
want 10 publish it III detail. We want
II printed SO that every feature can
be studied. II understand 1t rightly.
TO segresatc the schools by a spcc!a!
S-miii 'aN would impair, their eni-
cheney. II iS mere camouhagc to say
'he people OF Richmond would stand
Tor an Increased school tax. would
just as soon pay a tax OF ) mills In
crease for the general fund as for
scnoois. for the amount TO he paid by
t!s. taxpayers would be exactly the
IL was finally agreed TO have copies
81 the budget printed a. once by the
with this action The. Board adjourned
Jack l.. Epps. Alderman from Clay
Ward. took his Seat mem Der of
the Board. and was warmly greeted
by the old members.
NEW BUDGET CONTAINS
VERY FEW DETAILS
Aftermath OF the meeting Of the
Board OF Aldermen last night was even
more interesting than the sess ION IL
self. The Board. in ordering the
printing OF the executive budget did
SO under the impression that IL con-
tained detailed statements of prospec-
tive expenditures. This impress ion
. was dispelled when. just after prcsi
den; adams declared the meeting adj
journed. the members gathered around
the desk of CITY Clerk Mcdowell and
began to examine the main document.
which. while il contained more facts
and ngures than the summary which
was attached TO II. was far short Of
what some OF the members wanted.
Alderman Melton declared that IL
contained practically nothing to go on.
Other Aldermen Chimed i'll with the
discovery that they could not hnd
what salaries were TO be paid TO va
rious employees in the different de-
nartments. one member said that be-
yond stating the salaries of the di-
rcctors. which were already fixed by
law, the budget was silent on the
question of the pay OF practically all
officials IN the departments. The
opinion was generally expressed that
these matters were important in con
nection with determining where money
could be saved in the expenses of the
..i