Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-09-23
CHARTER AMENDMENT
TO GO TO VOTERS
City Officials Desire to Change
Beginning of Fiscal Year
to July 1.

When the voters of the city go to
the polls at the November election
they will find a ballot upon which
is printed a proposed amendment TO
the charter of the City of Alma,
which on the face of the amendment
means little, as it is simply a propo-
sition to change the beginning Of the
fiscal year from October l to July /.
While seemingly unimportant, it
promises to have a big bearing on
city affairs in the future.
Under present conditions, with the
fiscal year beginning October /. the
taxes collected during July, August
and September are not available for
the city until the beginning of the
fiscal year on October /. There is
little chance at this late date of
starting public improvements on any
large scale, with the hope of finish
ing it before freezing weather sets
in. This is particularly true with
paving and with sidewalk construc-
ton, as freezing weather will spoil
either. This means that under pres
ent conditions public improvements
must be held over until the following
spring.
This brings about another import
ant matter, that is worthy of consid-
GRAFTON. The budget by which taxes
are raised is prepared early in the
year, the summer tax being based
upon the amount estimated in the
budget. II certain public improve
ment was contemplated under pres
ent conditions, and could not be put
in after October /, il would go over
until the following spring, or prac-
tically year from the time that the
estimates on the cost were made. IL
the prices Of materials have in
creased in the meantime, there is not
sufficient money for the completion
Of the work, making a still further
delay necessary.
BY changing the charter, so as to
start the fiscal year on July l, the
taxes which become payable in July.
are then made available on July /. II
follows naturally that estimates on
the cost of the work. which 90 into
the budget, will be much nearer cor
rect if made for two or three months
in advance, than if they were made
for a period Of from twelve TO fifteen
months in advance. BY changing the
date to July l, there would be, as a
result, much less danger Of under
estimating the cost of any public
work. as there would be plenty of
time for its construction during that
summer. Materials could be bought
in june, as money for its payment
would be available within thirty days,
and would be on the ground ready to
start work Immediately after July 1.
In many cases on larger public
works, the changing of the date for
the beginning of the fiscal year,
would mean almost years time
saved in getting in the work.
Manager William Reynolds pointed
out Monday that this would in no
way change the amount of money
needed for taxes. but that it would
simply allow earlier completion of
public work, end also make il posi-
bic to more nearly estimate the cost
Of work.
The ballot will in addition TO the
squares for the yes and no of the vot-
er, have printed on them the follow
ing:
Amendment 60 City Charter
THAT Section ] of Chapter XIV Of
the Charter of the City Of Alma,
Michigan, be amended to read: The
fiscal year of the City shall com
mence on the first day Of July in
each year"