Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-04


upon this department. and I think those
In charge should have kept within the
appropriation. On the 10th day of Sep
tember, this year, I wrote several of the
departments requesting them not to run
into debt As mayor, charged with see
ing that the affairs Of the city are eco
nomically conducted, had right to ex-
pect strict compliance with such request.
The board OF finance lis made up Of the
mayor, president of the board of alder
men and the city treasurer. After the
organization OF the CITY government,
which takes place on the first Monday
In April, each year, this board of finance
between that date and the goth of June
make up an estimAte or the necessary
appropriations TO cover the expenses of
each department and branch of the city
government TO ne known as the bud
get rms budget is guide to the city
council in making the appropriations.
The city council this year. as usual.
levied tax and appropriated to the sew
eral departments all the money which
IL was expected couId he raised by tax
atlon. Tne amount set to the Incidental
1und was Slo,Wo' rms fund Is used TO
pay small items or liabilities which cam
not pc set TO any department, and has
now 10 us credit only S'". the bud
get does not provide Tor general FUND, y
WINCH II we had one might be used for
general purposes.
nave netore SAID TO your honorable
au' 'na, . opposeu w uo''s we
V.' 90 ''''' 'e"''o' n'S ''a"''
priations of anv de,artpert Thi. sec.
ton provides way for paying the cur
rent liabilities: I'm other words for nav
ing the ordinary expenses of running the
city government. until money comes in
from the next taxation.
Is we can use any of this money we get
from temporary loans to increase the APP
preparation or any department. then we
could use all of II, even to the limit of
our power to make such loans, and we
woSld be seriously troubled to find a way
to get money to pay the current running
expenses ] regard such legislation OK
tremely bad business. and / think it is
unlawful. ! cannot lend my signature as
mayor In aid of such practice.
] do not think the taxpayers want their
margin Of credit for making temporary
loans to meet the ordinary expenses Of
running the government used up, by draw.
ing upon the receipts from such tenn
porary loans. to increase the appropria-
ton Of any department.
therefore return this resolution to your
honorable board without my approval.
Respectively.
]. HOLMES JACKSON. Mayor.
LOAN To WAITED DEpApTNENr
VETOED
,, .o,o
'i'''e '''' wa De'en'oe' i''' 1879
TO the Honorable Board of Aldermen OF
|.
Gentlemen: The resolution adopted by
your board November 10TH 1919 author
zng and directing the city treasurer to
place to the credit of the water depart-
ment the sum Of 5000 to meet accrued
liabilities" has received my careful con-
sideration
The resolution also provides that the
city treasurer borrow this amount ''as
temporary loan. and to give a note there
for and to renew" said note, from time
to time, az occasion might require, not
to cover a period exceeding two years"
This particular liability resulted, as
stated in the resolution, from extra
work and material in laying main on
Pine street and Park avenue"
This department is conducted by
capable men, but through a misunder-
standing, as I am told, as to the powers
of the water commissioners, this liability
was incurred without direct authority
of the city council. No department of
the city government has any lawful right
to create debts beyond the amount Of the
appropriation to that department with
out authority of the city council.
1t is the sole right Of the city council
to pledge the credit of the city.
About one year ago, because of what
seemed to be an absolute need, a pro-
vision was made to lay water main in
Pine street and Park avenue, to provide
better fire protection in that vicinity
1t seems that the work cost more than
was expected, and after the appropriation
was all spent, the department early this
year extended the pipe further than was
called for, at first; hence this extra
cost
I have more than once informed your
honorable board that l am opposed to
using money raised by temporary loans
to increase the appropriation of any de-
partment unless in the case of emer-
gency, which does not appear to exist
in this case.
I quote from a former message to your
board my views on this subject:
Temporary loans are authorized by
the charter. but for the purpose of pro-
yiding means to carry on the ordinary
affairs of the CITY until money Ia coll
lected from future taxation. and such
loans should not otherwise be made
EXCEPT in emergency cases.
1.-The right of the city council to pledge
the credit of the city by Temporary
loans Is limited TO 100 cents on the dol
lar of the grand list and l think we