The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-02-07


the general expenditure and such out
lay as the departments may have to
spend for their general upkeep, was
$1,081 450.06. In 1922, which year had
both forms of government, the main
tenance cost was $875, 216.37, and in
1928, with the city manager form of
government in full swing, this cost
was cut to $814,434.73.
This statement shows that it cost
$206,233 less to operate the city in
1922 than it did in 1921, and $266,026
less in 1923 than in 1921 or, that for
each dollar spent in 1921, the city de-
livered the same service under the city
manager form of government in 1922
for 800 cents, and in 1928 for 1873
cents. These savings could be used in
carrying. out the big projects under
taken under the city manager form and
even with them the total expenditure
in each year under the city manager
form was less than in 1921 under the
former method of government.
Here Are Totals for Year.
In the year 1921 more was also spent
in the total expenditures than in eth
err of the years under the city manager
form of government, despite the fact
that the detailed statement shows that
much bigger program was carried
through in the latter two years. The
figures for total expenditures are:
1921, under aldermanic form, $1,212,-
1854; 1922, under aldermanic form
until April and city manager form for
the remainder of the time, $1,184,021,-
03; 1928, under city manager form,
SLOTS, 557 85.
The complete report as reproduced
in other columns on this page shows the
real significance of these figures as it
also shows what has been done in the
way Of city Improvement during these
years.
Cuts Cost Per Capita.
Another method of Analysing the
figures shows the cut in cost of gov
eminent even more clearly. In 1921
the population of Kenosha was con-
servatively estimated at $4,000, this
putting the per capita cost for city
government maintenance at $25 under
the old aldermanic form of govern
ment.
In 1922 the population advanced to
1000 and the per capita cost was S19.-
So In 1928 the per capita cost with
an estimated population of $4,000 was
$3.50, both of the two latter years
being largely under the city manager
form of government. Ill
The items mentioned in the report
are for the entire cost of government
excepting schools and libraries from
funds to be raised in each case by taxi
es and direct revenues. The saving
in maintenance cost Released this
money for the carrying out of other
projects or have resulted in the re-
turn of the balance to the contingent
fund. In 1923 of the city's portion of
taxes of $1,193, 500, $235, $50 or 10 2-3
per cent was spent for extra ordinary
work, such as the civic center or'the
big paving program, and $78,766.68
was turned back to the contingent fund
b ythe city hall departments.
1t is noticeable that in 1921 under
the aldermanic form of government
the tax mill rate was 035 and that in
1922 and 1923 it was .031.
Same Service at Less Cost.
Another analysis of the figures
shows that for each dollar spent in
1921 the city delivered the same serv-
ice for 500 cents in 1922 and for 1858
cents in 1928.
In making a comparison of the total
expenditures, both maintenance and
outlay, we find in 1922 Kenosha spent
$2S,237 less than was spent in 1921
and in 1928 that the city spent $685.,
701 less than was spent in 1921 or in
other words the total expenditure of
operating the city in 1922 was SO and
one-half per cent of that of 1921 and
in 1928 it was SO per cent of that of
1921. 1t might be expressed that it
cost the city SO cents in 1928 to de-
liver the total service that it cost 81
to deliver in 1921.
Paid Tribute to Commissioners.
In submitting the figures, City Man
ager Osborn paid high tribute to the
untiring work of the five citizens who
have served on the city commission
and whose efficient service has largely
made possible this large saving for
the taxpayers of the city.
"In compiling these figures great
care has been taken that nothing be
included in the costs for the year
1921 for maintenance which was in
the least questionable" said Mr.. Os-
born. "Another 100000 might easily
have been included as maintenance
cost but because we were not absolute
ly sure of this, it was omitted. Had
it been included the difference between
the costs under the two systems would
have been even more favorable to the
city manager form of government"
First Exact Comparison.
Hitherto it has been impossible to
show a comparison of the two forms
of government for the same service
because no complete year had been
carried on under the city manager
form of government.
These statistics will be of great
interest to all cities where the city
manager form of government is being
contemplated, as being something in
black and white showing the two sys-
TENS in operation.