The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1919-10-11
MU NiCATION -
New IBERIA, Oct. eth, 1919.


To the board OF Trustees Of The City
Of New Iberia aud The Taxpn, ers |
would respectfully call your attention
- the conditions sc are about to face.
| with reference TO tie Finances aud
Management Of this City.
| As Is known by nil, II Is during the
month ot October that q budget should
| he made for operation of next years
| affairs, showing receipts from all
| sources, ard likewise expenditures
luntt mplated. The Tax levy should
be made after il has been aseertained
| the amount of revenue to he derived
| from licenses, Market Rent, Water
aud Light revenues City Court Fines.
and Pond Shop Penalties.
Last year 1t became necessary To
collect Ten mill tax OH g per
cent of he full value oi all property
movable aud immuvHble within the
Gitv limits TO meet the expenditures
aud even then, with the increased cost
~ mHtt ftai labor, etc. there will be 81
deficit. the war aud ils inflated prices
being mostly reepunpihle for he con.
ditions met during 1918 aud 1919
Being party 20 the making of the
budget Tor the coming year 1870, ]
lfink u my duty to discuss this INST
iee ttY Il more candid conclusion than
previously for the reason nov morn
noiieabie to IL e than previously, th9t
iu the past We nave undertaken tp
make extensive improvements out Of
tie Genera Fund iastead OF asking
he taxpayers to stand the expense Of
llaeeg inpruv eiuelas. by a special tax
\ e m Illustration | will cite the fact
tfat during The administration Of
Mas Or tunteliau, Mr. Suberbieile and
myself IN 1911 Il WIS deemed proper
O install Live and tlbe hall miles Of
WNter mains with about tlfly Extra
Fire HHdrants. Filtration Plant
Fire AIafm system, ete at cost OF
si0 600 90, there was no extra tax
asked this money was borrowed. to be
paid in Ten equal yearly instalmput
bearing interest at ) per cent per an
num, both the interest aud Que tenth
II the Principal has been paid year
out of the General Fund, up to date
Next ii was found that floating IN.
iebtedness bad been carried most
from the old council for various i'm
Dfovenents amounting to approx
aateiy S36 900 90. during tlie adlni.
nistratiop OF May or seaIy, Mr.. Suhef
aelle and myself. 1t was deemed
proper TO refund this indebtedness,
most of which was bearing : per cent
interest, All issue Of Zen year Certifi-
laies. bearing ; per cent interest was
authorized. this TO be paid in Ten
yearly payments we have paid huth
the interest and the yearly principal
pas ments, out oil the General fnnd up
date. without asking any tax For
this purpose.
" II not discuss the form Of Gov
ernment best suited for our little Cfty
ut this time, nor will ! take cogni
zance of the many attacks directed
against the Water and Light Plant
though this much can be said in pass
lng Any form of Government, Coun.
Gilman, Commission. or Manager
Form, can be made n success II the in
terest OF New Iberia t. considered
tiest. last aud always will be glad
to submit this matter TO the voters OF
this CITY for their consideration when
ever they find 1t necessary for Il vote
In regards The Water Il light Plant,
his is in my humble estimation a
good investment, the talk OF all the
smoke going up the stack and taking
hr lax paS ets money 10 operate, Il
not exactly correct.
II the Plant was privately owned,
the Light aud Water used by the City
would have to be paid for, aud after
,aying the yearly bill for the past 20
years, which biIi would exceed a
thfee mill tax, the City would own
io hing but the signed receipts foi
yearly nas ments. instead Of the pres
ent sl50,000 plant.
II has always been found convenient
use the revenue from the Water
md light plant for al purposes, put
ing the money IN the General fund
with all other City funds aud checking
sgainst it 10 pay the most pressing
oils. | would again ask THAT these ac
counts be kept separate in accordance
With the requirements OF the City
Charter. After reciting the foregoing
[ wish now to get to the point IN
which we are all much interested.
and that is how best to approach our
budget. and start the year 1920 right,
ny suggestion is that We immediately
learn the amount of Improvement
certificates we have issued, which
amounts have been.taken care of out
of the general fund, that we then pro
ceed to ask cur taxpayers for A sulilei
ent miIage 10 pay of this incurred
Indebtedness, say in about twenty
years: We then will be able to make
lie tax levy at as low d rate as We find
.ntticient TO operate the city without
4ffecting it's credit as will be done if we
nt ~ Ia nd n.
lx urge whether be party connected
with the management of the city at
fairs or it be some other.
The loss of 100000 from the Saloon
License will be certainly felt next
year. though find consolation in the
ease with which this subject can be
approached.
Respectfully yours,
LAWRENCE r. yILLERM IN
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