Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-04-07
QUESTIONING
DEBT DECLARED
OVER $l5O,OOO
Alderman Warren Forecasts Com
ing Auditors Report In Dis
cussion Over Paving

An inkling of what may be eX-
pected in the auditors report on the
financial condition of the City OF
Americus came. out at last nights
meeting of the city council in DEBATE
over whether the city should con-
tinue paving as already planned at
this time or not. Alderman Warren,
chairman of the finance committee,
to whom financial features and paw
ing matters are referred, informed
the council that the city's floating
Indebtedness now is at least $780,
600.
Other members of the body having
been given this information previous
ly, it caused no evidences of surprise
on the floor Of council, despite the
fact that the report of the mayor at
the beginning Of the present year, in
presenting the budget for this year,
showed floating indebtedness OF
only $83,154.19. 1t was to wipe out
the floating debt, then reported as
amounting to 100000, that an extra
3 mill levy was made two years ago
to run maximum of five years
with understanding it was to liqui-
date the entire floating deb. in that
period. The new audit report is
expected about next Monday, the
auditors now being engaged in COM
piiing it at their offices in Atlanta.
City Not In Shape.
When the matter of paving West
Church street at this time was
brought up last night, after postpone
ment at the last meeting, Mr.. Warren
reported that the city was in no shape
TO spend the money for its part of
the project; that while its share
might not be more than 81 900 the
city was in no condition to finance
any amount. He said he would fav-
or proceeding only if the property
owners paid the whole cost except
the street intersections, leaving this
much as the city's whole share. 1t
was mentioned by Mr.. Burke that this
was out of the question as it would
require charter change
Mr. Allison declared he favored
proceeding with the paving. He said
w. f. Mitchell has already financed
the project for the city and he didn't
believe the city should stop progress.
IF any street needs paving, that
is it," said he, 'for in the summer
nearly every bale of cotton brought
to Americus is hauled on it and the
dust is terrible"
Mr.. Warren replied that the city's
floating debt was more than $780,
90, and that if the city kept piling
up Indebtedness progress would be
forced to stop much more suddenly
than If the city were to stop spend
ing at this time.
School Vouchers Pile Tn.
Mr.. Burke said Mr.. Mitchell
wanted action. He declared plenty
Of cities were worse in debt than
Americus, and that there was no
cause for alarm.
Mr.. Warren responded that he
would recite detail to show what
the city was up against. He said
1t now owed the Planters Bank S4O,-
600 on school vouchers and that the
bank had refused to cash any more
vouchers until some of the old ones
were taken up. He stated that, fac
ing this contingency, Friday was
school payday, with $4,000 teach
ers' payroll to meet and only 81
500 in the bank. "We've got to get
the money somewhere" said he, "but
don't know where it will be. If
we keep on adding to the floating
debt it will make it impossible to
proceed"
81 believe in doing little paving
every year. said Mr.. Allison.
81 believe in wearing good clothes
if you can pay for them, but not