The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-01-08
CITIES OF united STATES
RUN HEAVILY INTO DEBT
OFFICIAL REPORT SHOWS
THAT AVERAGE COST IN 261
PLACES is $50 PER CAPITA.
SPENDING BEYOND MEANS
Tax Levies and Indebtedness Are
Gradually Increasing Some Inter
esting Facts and Figures Are Given
By Department of Commerce.

Gradually Increasing. Some Inter
esting Facts and Figures Are Given
By Department of Commerce.
WASHINGTON-According to re-
ports made to the Department of Com
merce the total revenues of the POI
cities having a population of over
| $4,000 in 1922 amounted to $5181 per
| capita. The per capita expenses for
maintenance and operation of the gov
eminent and interest on debt was
$41.42, and for permanent improve
, ments $15.95, making total per capita
expenditure of $57 38, or an excess of
all costs over revenue of $3.50 per
capita, This indicates that the city
revenues are sufficient to cover ordi-
nary running expenses of the govern
ment, pay interest on public debt and
| a part of the cost of permanent i'm
provements, the difference being met
by the issuance of bonds. The pay
ments from the proceeds of the sale of
these bonds are reported as costs of
government the year such payments
are made the taxes and other revenue
collected to meet the principal and in
terest OF such debt are recorded as a
revenue the year the collection is made.
Expenditures.
The total cost of government in
1922 OF the POI cities of 5000 popula-
ton and over amounted to $2,222, $780,
$40, or $57.38 per capita. The largest
cities having a population of 100000
and over show the highest per capita
cost, $6688 The next highest per
capita, $6429, is shown for cities with
a population of 100000 to 100000 The
per capita cost of cities from 100000
to 100000 amounted to $48.7l. The
per capita cost of cities from $4,000
to 100000 was $44.94. The cost in the
small cities having population of
10000 to $4,000 shows the lowest per
capita, $44.38.
Comparable statistics are shown for
100 of the principal cities, and in these
the per capita cost has increased from
$34.68 in 1918 to $4,000 in 1922.
An analysis of the costs of the city
governments shows that the per capita
cost for maintenance and operation of
general departments was the principal
item and amounted to $33.15, consist
ing of 1924 for general government,
5000 for protection of person and
property, 1925 for health and santa
ton, $2.87 for highways, sos for
charities and corrections. $3.50 for
schools 4lc For libraries, $l09 for
receations, and $l.34 for miscellaneous
purposes, for maintenance and opera
ton of public service enterprises, such
as waterworks electric light plants.
markets, and similar enterprises, the
per capita was $5275; for interest on
debt, $5.52 per capita; and the per cap
tia cost of permanent improvements
was $l595, including $3.50 for public
service enterprises.
Revenues.
The total revenue receipts Tor 1922
, were $2,007 008,7 or $51.81 per cap
tia. consisting Of $3554, general pro-
perty taxes; lie poll taxes; $3.50 bust
ness and non-business licenses; $500
special assessments for improvements
SAC fines and forfeits; $3.07, subven-
tions, donations and pension assess
ments; $243, highway privileges; $1.34
earnings OF general departments; and
$40, earnings of public service enter
prises
In the POI cities property taxes re
presented OoI per cent OF the tOIdl
revenues in 1922. The increase in the
amount of property taxes collected for
the 100 cities was 21.5 per cent from
1915 10 1918, and 82.1 per cent from
1913 to 1922 The per capita property
taxes were $35.47 in 1922, 021.43 in
1918, and $18.87 in 1915.
From 1902 to 1919 the aggregate
payments for the 146 cities, having
over $4,000 population in 1902 exceed
ed the revenues by an annual average
of $685. per capita, but there has al
ways been sufficient revenue to meet
the expenses of operation and main
tenance and interest charges.
Indebtedness.
The net Indebtedness FUNDED and
floating debt less sinking fund assets)
of the POI cities amounted to $3618,-
967,272, or a per capita of $93.42. For
the 100 cities included in the 1922, 1918
and 1915 reports the per capita debt
was $95.6l for 1922. $79.51 for 1918 and
S7622 for 1915.
For the POI cities, having over So
900 population in 1922, the assessed
valuation of property subject to ad va
loren taxation for city purposes was
$50. 1886, 596,942 and the per capita levy
for the city corporation, $685..