The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1922-02-26
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
From Mayor Glover.

= has been laid at my door, | wish II
s have placed before the people Of thu
( city the report of the public account
I. ant, Mr.. Lewis e. Crook, of Meridian
in order that the people may see thai
: am no more to blame for the q
mills levy than a newborn babe.
The levy was made by the alder.
men. / had no vote in the matter
whatever. / have a vote only in case
: of a tie vote among the six alder
men. If three of the members should
vote Eyes" and three vote mo" on a
given proposition, then the mayor
would cast the deciding vote. The tax
, levy of % mills was made by I'M
animous vote of the aldermen. In
fact, there was nothing else for them
to do, as the city's debts and running
expenses must be paid.
| am perfectly willing to assume
and shoulder anything for which | am
really and truly responsible, but am
not willing to be blamed for con-
dition the creation of which / had
lbSOiulCly uOliiliiS W w.
AS a matter of common justice to
myself, | ask the people to read the
following report made by Mr.. Crook.
1t will then be easily seen why our
city tax levy is % mills. Mr.. Crooks
report is as follows:
Office of
LEWIS f. COOK
Meridian, Mississippi.
Nov. /, 1921.
Hon. A. Y. Glover, Mayor,
Columbus, Miss.
This levy is necessary to take care
Of deficit in the funds of approx
mately $28,00000 as of October /,
1921, and to meet the State Woman's
College Warrant and interest $l3,650
due January, 1922.
1t is apparent that the approximate
deficit of $4,000 was brought about
by not having a sufficient levy of tax
in October, 1920, to provide for or
binary expenditures and disburse-
ments on pending contracts for paw
ing, and curb and cutters, together
with expenditures not contemplated.
The budget prepared in October,
1920, called for a levy Of % mills
we're collected, this starting the year
1920-21, 2 mills or $12,168 short. This
together with expenditures in excess
of the budget, explains the deficit in
approximate figures as follows:
School in excess of 1920
budget .,................$11, 900
Water Works excess Of 1920
budget OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .SlO, OOU
Paving, curb and cutters in
excess of paving fund. -. .$16,700 |
Less collections and
sales, water works in
excess Of budget 1920 S 1000
Less, School-State Dis
tribution in excess of
budget 1920 ........S 1000
Funds on hand Oct. /,
1920, including paving
fund ......... .S17,700 21,700 |
Deficlt .......,,,..,..... $4,000 |
2 mills short to start .$12,168 /
deficit pom
levy 1920-21 ............. $2S, 168 |
Of course a great deal of detail
could be set out in the anlysis of the
deficit, but the foregoing figures are
the main items, and it is clearly APP
parent that if the % mills levy had
been collected for 1920-21 as recon-
mended by the Mayor in October, /
1920, that all matters would have /
been provided for, with the exception
Of the paving and curb and cutters.
The amount expended for paving in
excess of bond issue was approximate
ly $4,000, and for curb and cutters
So, 200
As to the paving, / understood 1
from the Mayor at the time the bud
get was prepared in October, 1920,
that he contemplated a payment from
the County to apply on this, but there
is no record Of any such payment re-
ceived during my period of audit to
October /, 1921; however at the meet
ing of the City Council October II,
1921, it was reported by your Treasur-
or that the sum of $500 had just been
paid in by the County for street pur-
poses and this was considered in fix
ing the total levy of % mills for all
purposes, II for general and IL for
school. II
The ~ mills increase you have in !
mind was to take care of the approxi-
mate deficit as of October l., 1921,
and College Warrants as discussed at
he meeting Of the Council as follows:
deficit $4,000 ,
College Warrant due Jan. 2. S1O,500 ,
interest on College Warrants s $3.50 ,
SAL $50 T.
Real and Personal Rolls S5.51S,511 !
If the foregoing report of the GER !
flied public accountant is not clear /
,nough. / viii be glad to go into the :
natter more fully with any who are !
!
Faithfully yours, IL
A. Y. GLOVER, =;
Mayor. :