Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-14
Mr.. Heselton Has
Another Word on
Municipal Affairs

+.
Editor Kennebec Journal:
May I call the attention of the Gar
diner voters in our local column Of
Your paper to certain facts, which I
think will tend to clear up an effort
, TO distract the attention and cloud the
real issue in the coming city election
regarding the appropriation bill?
II any facts are undisputed they are
the following:
The 1924 proposed appropri-
alton bill calls for. 1901, s24.00
The 1923 appropriation bill
called for ............... 176,400.95
The increase this year ISIS 25,423.O5
But the advocates Of this years ap-
preparation bill say that this increase
Is apparent but not real. 1t is but an
effort to make the appropriation ap-
proximately cover the amount of the
expenditures Of 1923. which they claim
was $209,4S6.S2. Indeed, by making
the appropriation bill for this year
1901 .S24o0 they would have the voters
infer that they will keep we'll within
the expenditures Of last year and save
$4,000. If that Is the purpose and in
tent OF the proponents Of this years
appropriation bill, think 1t can be
shown the government can appropriate
SIG. 400.95, as in 1923, and still have
the $201, S34.00 which they asked for to
spend.
The mayor is reported to have said:
'Tne public had not grasped the real
facts. Newspapers had been caused to
misquote. Comparisons had been made
between the stated appropriations of
1924 and those Of the previous year,
1928, when as a matter Of fact. regard
less of last years appropriations there
was expended that year 500, 486.82, a
matter Of $4,000 more than the appro-
priations made by the present govern
ment."
Have the intentions Of the mayor in
making these statements been fairly
interpreted by me as above?
I If the public have not "grasped the
real facts" let us try to do so. In a
recent issue of the local paper was
printed a financial statement of our
city's affairs. will use the figures in
that statement as authentic because I
presume they were authorized by the
city government. I will use them as a
| basis to build upon and make good my
| assertion that If the 1924 city govern
! ment in good faith intends to confine
| its expenditures to the sum Of $201,-
| S24.00 they can do so by adopting the
1928 appropriation bill and thus avoid
an increase OF the tax rate or the val
| uation.
Please consider these figures:
The expenditures Of 1898 as
claimed were .$209. 1852
The appropriate for 1923
was Ito,fVV.So
Expenditure over appropri-
alton asOss 81
The city government, then, in 1928
expended $33.0S5.S7 more than its ap-
preparation, and, as the final report in
/ dicates, then had s504973 to carry to
surplus. How did they acquire this
money? Why, every year there is a
revenue to several Of the departments
of certain sums of money-as. for in
stance, last year there came from the
State and tuition for common schools
s1o.656.96; for institutional education,
$16S333; for physical education,
S4sS.s9: for high school, s6163.70. In
addition to these items there were 9TH
er revenues, such as State pensions,
mothers aid. interest on overdue taxes,
etc. And all these revenues last year
totaled the $33,0s5.s7 which made up
the 1928 expenditures above the appro-
priation. These revenues are annual