Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-22
12-MILL TAXLEVY
FOR 1920 DECIDED
UPON BY COUNCIL
Budget to Pass on First Read
ing at Tomorrow's
Session
S126,O0O MORE REVENUE
Many New Items and In
creased Operating Costs
Responsible
$126,00O MORE REVENUE

City Council will pass on first
reading tomorrow morning the
1920 budget ordinance, and will
fix the tax rate for next year at
II mills. thus providing about
81 100000 in revenue. it was
announced in city official cir
cles to-day.
Final action on the budget
was taken at a conference OF
Councilmen this afternoon
when it was decided to include
number of important items
for the coming year.
Much Additional Revenue
The two-mill increase over this
years rate of ten mills will pro-
vide $126,000 more revenue than
was available this year. But the city
will lose about $4,000 because of
not receiving any liquor license
money, $1,000 less from fines and
forfeitures from the police depart
ment, and the cash balance of $20,-
600 at the end of this year, most of
which will be used to pay for re-
modelling and improvements to the
Eager building, now used for the
police and health bureaus. Because
of this total loss in revenue of S47,-
900, of the $1:6,000 provided by the
two-mill advance, only $4,000 will
be available for increases in vari-
Gus departments and for new work.
1t is understood that because of
the increasing popular demand for
the erection of the Donate fountain,
Dance of Eternal Spring" Council
will provide $1,000 for placing the
statuary, which was given to the
city by NJ. S. Hershey, the chocolate
king"
Money For Concerts
During the last summer Council
men, by taking small amounts from
the contingent funds of the vari-
Gus departments furnished money for
municipal band concerts. Next year
the sum of $1,000 will be available
for concerts, one member of Coun-
ell said, the Commissioners deciding
TO include that amount in the ap-
preparation ordinance.
To purchase more equipment for
the bureau of ash and garbage in
spection $6,125 will be provided, and
it is said that about $4,000 will be
added to the appropriation for ash
collections next year, so that the
work can be continued on regular
schedules.
Contract Expires
With the expiration of the five
year contractors guarantees on a
number of additional sections OF
paved streets $4,000 more will be
appropriated for the highway de-
partment for this work, SO that the
highways can be kept in proper re-
pair. About $4,000 additional will
be available for street sweeping.
Another additional item in the
budgea which the Councilmen de-
cided was necessary will be the APP
preparation of $1,000 for child well
fare work in Harrisburg, the amount
to be paid probably in quarterly in
stalments.
More For Patrolmcn
The plan of Council to purchase
the Eager building from the school
district for 100000, paying $4,000
in January, necessitates including
the latter sum in the 1920 budget,
it was explained. To provide the in
terest and sinking fund charges on
the bond issues of s190,O00 for street,
sewer and bathing facility improve
ments about $4,000 is to be appro-
priated.
Because of increasing costs of
labor, and to provide an increase in
salary for the city patrolmen, each
of whom, 1t is understood, will re-
ceive an advance of $40 n month,
S25, 900 more will be appropriated
in next years budget for wages and
salaries. In all departments, it is
said that slight increases are to be
made. This includes an advance of
$500 a year for each member of
Council.
An appropriation will be made
also to pay for the erection of twelve
new lights in various parts of the
city, about the same number as have
been provided each year.