The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-01-10
County Reduces
Its Expense Bill
Salary Cuts Mostly Small;
Savings Planned in all ways
Reach $4,000 for Year as
Compared With Last.

Maui County's appropriation bill
shows reduction in proposed eXpendi-
ture as compared with the first six
months of last year of more than
100000 the biggest saving being eff
fected in the department of pub
lie works and in the sundries
accounts. In several of the de-
partments it was impossible to oper-
ate for less than last year because of
the salary increases to official of such
departments made by the last legis-
lature. The appropriation bill provides
for expenditures of $74,792.50 for the
quarter as against $1SS,546 for the
first six months of last year.
General Salary Cuts
Salary cuts in offices where sal
aries are not fixed by law have been
general except in the county engi-
neer's Office and the examiner of
chauffeurs but usually are not large.
An exception is that of the deputy
county attorney raised a few months
since $75 a month and now cut from
$3.50 to 5000 monthly. Salary cuts
generally range from $5 month in
the police department up to SO and
$15 month in clerical positions. The
cut in the salaries of policemen is de-
signed to effect a savings of about
$4,000 in the year.
County physician salaries were cut
in several instances $25 month
making an annual savings of $1,000.
Plans for road and bridge work are
curtailed, the appropriation for Wal
lul1u being at the rate of $4,000 in
stead of $4,000 annually, Makawao
$4,000 instead of $4,000, Lahaina
$4,000 instead of $15,600, Hama $1,000
instead of $4,000 and Molokai $4,000
instead of more than $4,000. Proposed
expenditures for machinery, stock and
equipment are cut in half as compar-
ed with last year. Child welfare ap-
propriations are cut at the rate Of
$4,000 a year and the INDECENT and
pension fund is reduced at the rate
of $4,000 for the year. County park
upkeep and street lighting approprla-
TOMS are reduced one half.
In making up the appropriation. bill
the board did not quite limit itself
to the $35, 100000 assessed valuation
basis. Such a limitation would have
necessitated a further reduction IN
expenses for the quarter of $4,000. On
that basis the county would have only
revenue of about $2S0,000 in the gen
eral fund and the appropriation bill
provides for expenditures at the rate
of 100000 but the county ended the
year with a surplus of some $2O,OOO.
When details of the assessed Valua-
ton are obtainable change of basis
can be made in subsequent appropri-
ations measures. If the valuation is
higher, the board will not have to
sail quite so close to the wind but II
it should be $35,000,000 or less cloth
will have to be cut accordingly and
subsequent appropriations will have
to be smaller, further economies put
into practice.
Auto Expense Regulated
While the salaries of district over
seers has not been cut, those who
have their own cars will have TO buy
their own tires and pay for the up
keep and repairs but will have an al
lowance of oil and gasoline. County
officials in other departments are al
so placed on allowances for upkeep OF
cars, tires, repairs, etc. The deputy
sheriff of Wailuku is allowed at the
rate of 500 a month, detectives $50,
Makawao deputy $50, Lahaina deputy
$40 and Molokai deputy SIS.
Public works will be considerably
curtailed, it is evident from study
of the budget but the board appears
to have done excellent work in its
attempt to make the necessary econ
OmieS