The labor world., 1922-09-09

Adequate working budgets for
both city and county are the aim
toward which the Taxpayers League
is working at present, according to
Robert NJ. Goodrich, executive Sec
retary Of the "better government
organization. The league has long
contended that the budgets OF both
city and county do not give true
picture of the governmental work.
ing program to the taxpayer, and 1t
is bending every effort to "let the
taxpayer know what is to be done
with his money before it is spent
One of the most important attrlb-
utes of budget is the interest taken
in it by the citizens. themselves.
league officials claim. In other words
it is contended that no matter how
good "a budget system, a city or
county may install, it would be in
oomplete unless the citizens. them
selves. let their officials know what
items thew wish in the budget, and
what excluded.
In order that citizens may know
what to epect of budget and how
te use it, the following description
Of budget has been made by Of
ficials of the organization
Value of tho Budget.
4 municipal or county budget IS
a. definite work program for the
coming fiscal year. This means. that
the county or city, knowing how
much money it has to spend, ac-
cording to the estimate made and
work program adopted, tells the tax
payer in advance just how it is pro-
posed to spend that money. Once the
method Of spending the money is
decided, and the budget is adopted
on that basis. the county or city
has it's program for the year, and
the taxpayer knows definitely just
what improvements are to be made,
just what roads are to be built,
buildings to be constructed, or serv-
ice rendered without any further
worry on his part.
The first step in making q budget
is for the public officials to draw
up a schedule, showing in detail
just what they intend to do with
taxes received. In order that this
schedule should be effective, 1t must
be drawn in the greatest detail,
showing the exact amount OF SAL
aries paid to different individuals.
the cost of building certain roads,
or paving certain streets, the amount
of new equipment necessary during
the year, etc.
Examine 1t in Advance.
When this first estimate has been
drawn, it is presented to the taxpay-
err, either through the medium Of
the daily press, or through pamph-
lets distributed by the city. 1t is then
up to the taxpayer to do his part. If
he does not show civic interest at
this point. the official cannot be ex-
pected to know what he desires done
during the coming year and must
estimate the budget according to his
best judgment.
Every taxpayer or group of tax
payers should study closely the es-
innate presented to them. He should
decide whether he believes the i'm
provements listed to b ncssary, and
also whther the special improve
ments, which he desires, are on the
budget. If he believes that changes
in the city's program should be
made, he should appear before the
city governing body and ask for
these changes. 1t is then up to the
elected officials to determine wheth-
er or not the changes should be
made.
If the taxpayer is satisfied with
the budget as it stands, he should
also let his officials know about that
point, SO that they can tell whether
or not their program meets the
views of the voter.
Relieves Political "Grief."
1t is pointed out by the league that
the budget, not only assists the tax
payer in knowing what is to be done
With funds levied, but that it also
takes a great deal Of the political
"grief" from the public officials po-
sition. Once the budget is adopted
it is not supposed to be changed
except in cases of the greatest emer-
gency. The work program for the
year is made. The taxpayer has had