Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-23
CITY BUDGET PASSES
100000 MARK FRS
TIME IN HISTORY
Council Passes First Reading Ordinance Fixing Tax Lev!
at Twelve Mills New Work Planned For 1920

Council passed on first reading to-
day tho 1920 budget ordinance APP
prOpriating for the first time IN the
history of the city more than ST.
100000 for maintenance OF the Vari-
Gus departments. The tax rate was
fixed at twelve mills in another or
uinance, ap increase of two mills
over the 1919 rate.
The greater part of this increase
in revenues will he used by the de-
partments for new work, improve
ments and maintenance. Increased
costs of materials and labor had
much to do with the advance, the
park. highway and water depart
ments all needing more funds for
labor and materials
New Work Ahcad
In addition to this, members of
council decided to do some new
work next year, including the ercc-
tion of the Donate fountain. gift TO
the city three years ago; holding OF
municipal band concerts during the
summer, an appropriation for child
welfare work. more funds for a city
hospital and more money to repair
ing and resurfacing streets A pro
portionate increase was made also
in the park department, many of
the various park funds being in
creased over the 1919 amount
The budget ordinance and tax
rate measure will be passed finally
at the regular meeting next Tues
day. They will become effective at
once. so that when council is re-
organized January ;, the approprla-
tion items will be available for eN-
penditure.
Appropriation $1.062.o16
nf
priations carried in the ordinance
is $1.062.516.06.
City patrolmen and practically all
other office employees of the various
bureaus are given an increase OF
$40 month in pay. The labor items
in the big departments also carry
increases TO provide more money for
employees engaged by the water.
highway and park bureaus
In the executive department the
net increase in the budget is 81
631.40. caused largely by the pay
increase for the police. Items to-
falling S3,110, which were in the
1919 budget, were not included for
next year. among them office rent
and housing of police patrol. In the
bureau of law salary increases for
the city solicitor and assistant total
$500. while $1.17T.6S has been de-
duced from court costs and fees,
making a decrease in the budget for
that department for next year
amounting to S55I.6S.
Departmental Increases
Increases in the 1920 approprla-
tions for other departments and the
principal purposes for which the adj
ditionaI money will be used follow:
City clerk, S24O for salary increases
for city clerk and stenographer;
printing $1,000. additional printing
costs: weights and measures. IS; ac-
counts and finances, S1.190. salary
of superintendent and assistant and
increase in office rent; controller,
S2,SS2, of which 50, 500 is provided
as a salary increase fixed by state
law.
City treasurer s1.4S0. increased
commission for collection of taxes;
license tax office. $40. salary in
crease for license tax officer: board
of revision of taxes, $40, of which
S360 will be used for salary In
creases for the city assessor and two
assistants.
Miscellaneous fund: s1S.OOS.33.
Included in this increase is $4,000
as part payment for the Eager