Milford chronicle., 1920-07-23
PREPARING BUDGET
SYSTEM FOR STATE
WOULD PREVENT DUPLICATION, SAVE
WASTE AND ENHANCE EFFICIENCY
In MANY INSTITUTIONS.
NEED FULL FISCAL DATA
THIS WILL LIKELY BE THE SUBJECT OF
"A SPECIAL ACT TO Be PRESENTED
BEFORE The LEGISLATURE.

Preparing a budget system or meth
cd for the State, that means all that
the word implies. is the activity that
the Survey Commission of Delaware
is engaged on at present Since its
reorganization in thespring. and the
reOpening of the offices in the church
building the commission has been de-
voting all its efforts to shaping up
this information, considering it the
most important work that should be
gotten out of the way first.
Contrary to general impression,
the commission is not conducting a
survey of financial institutions or
State bodies that obtain State aid, but
is assembling information and data
for the information of the next Legis-
lature and also the financiers of the
State. There Will be no law present
ed to the Legislature, but a rough
outline of the essential items that the
legislators may easily have assembled
for enactment.
The budget system of each State
that has one is being considered in
the preparation of a budget system
for Delaware, so that the municipal
ity may benefit through the exper-
ience of others. The plan of each
State will be assembled in condensed
form for the consideration of the leg
islative sOlons and the bankers.
There are at the present time in
Delaware certain institutions that do
not spend all of the appropriations
granted them, and there are others
that eXpend every penny and have to
rvFH ..F
lie for enough extra funds to keep
them in operation. Through a budget
system, the over-appropriation of one
and the insufficient funds of the other .
would be balanced more evenly. ,
Waste in departments would be
checked. ifthe plan is executed prop
srly and honestly. and other depart .
nents that need money urgently .
would be benefited. The result of the
proper operation of budget system
would be increased efficiency and a
,etter understanding for all the peo-
Die of the State about State bodies.
There are 1856 agencies that obtain
money from the State. The usual
method has been to make an appro-
lriation when they asked for it
without proper investiga-
ion as to its wOrthiness. With the
proposed budget system, each agency
would have to submit its appeal for
unds to some person-perhaps the
GOVERNOR. or some authorized State
the State Board of
'harities. for approval. In this way.
is believed much needless expend-
Ire of money through duplication
f effort would be saved.
One State official who had occasion
D visit a small town in Sussex cOun-
VT was scarcely more than a VIII
lge-this week. found three other
haritable representatives there that
anne day, on errands of mercy, all of
hich it was found by the represen-
ltiyes comparing their errands, that
Duld have been looked after by one
an, or woman.
The question of a State budget is
le latest important idea to be ap- !
roved by the Delaware State Bank I
IS Association. 1t is known that
Ie bankers propose to discuss such f,
system at their fall meeting at Re- :
)both. and data in connection with :
Ie same is being assembled.
In connection with the budget sys-
m but yet entirely apart. is the
lestiOn of the beginning of the fiscal :
'ar for Delaware institutions. Some d
art in January, and others begin in :.
ost every month of the continuing
onths of the twelve. This is a very =
and perplexing, when these =
.encies ask for an appropriation. 4
ID to conduct and provide the ap- "
opriations honestly and without II
lste would require a large number :,
expert accountants. All could be =
oided and time and money and en- :,
rassment saved through having =
e Legislature establish a fixed date :, y
r the beginning of the fiscal year "
every agency that receives State =,
!. This item of business will likely :,
the subject of a special act to be y,
esented before the Legislature.