The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-12
CITY COUNCIL
BLASTED FOR
BOOSTING
Crushing Burden Is Piled on
Municipality, Chamber
Probers Declare.
GLOOMY VIEW OF 1928
Tax Levy Set Too Low,
Says Committee; Growth
in Deficits Seen.
GLOOMY VIEW OF 1928

City council has fattened the sala-
ries of city employees in it's 1928 bud
get and added a crushing future
financial burden to the city, the
civic affairs budget subcommittee OF
the Chamber of Commerce accuses
in an open letter to council, made
public today.
1--WE wish the public records to
show that we regard the 1928 ap-
preparation. and tax levy ordinances,
as finally adopted by the city coun-
Gil, as unsound and unwise. We can
see only gloomy outlook for city
finances in 1928 under the program,
or rather, lack of financial policy
adopted" the statement declares.
I'm general, the final council ac-
ton was to eliminate almost $40O,-
600 of what may be regarded as
fixed charges which inevitably will
have to be paid and to add about
100000 for increased salaries and
increased personnel of city en-
ployes."
Calls Levy Too Low
But the $1.085 levy, which with an
additional a of a cent sanitation
levy will total $1.089, is too low the
statement says. A $1.O95 levy should
have been adopted, it declares.
"One or two results are to be ex-
pected," it states. 1.-THE end of 1929
will find not only the same de
ficits in a great many city funds
(not including salary fundsJ, but
even larger deficits, and If such a
policy is repeated next year, we can
be sure that in 1890 the city will
face the necessity Of a very large
tax increase"
The statement then lists various
specific errors" in the budget.
Slash of city sinking fund levy
from 3.5 cents to 8 cents will give
$32,500 less than actually needed to
pay bond obligations.
Cutting of / cent, $65,o00, will re-
tard track elevation progress, the
letter states, and blame for councils
action is placed on Councilman Otis
E. Bartholomew, whose district will
receive the first benefit from eleva-
ton of the Belt Railroad"
Elimination OF 5 cent from the
street reslrfacing levy means that
resurfacins must be retarded next
year or payment must be provided
for in the 1929 levy with interest,
according to the statement.
Council also cut to $195, 900, which
is $4,000 below requirements, the
levy for interest payments.
Hits Salary Boosts
Salaries of two stenographerS in
the legal department were increased
from $1,320 to $1,000 and $3.50,
which are unusual salaries even for
stenographers in city employ" it
states. but the amount to pay
awards and indemnities against the
city was reduced from $4,000 to
$1,000.
The statement also points out
that council eliminated some small
appropriations for Office supplies for
the civil service commission, which
appears an indication of opposi-
ton to civil service" and ex-
presses hope that civil service
may be extended to all city en-
ployes.
1t points, out the market masters
salary was increased $500 and two
weights and measures positions,
which the finance committee IA
vored eliminating, were retained and
that $4,000 instead of the recon-
mended $4,000 was cut from the
building commissioners salary list.
Police Pay Tilt Raped
Jobs for a new battalion chief
and two new privates were created
in the fire department, but the
appropriation for heat, light and
power for fire stations reduced from
$4,000 to $4,000 when bills already
received show need for $1,000.
The report severely criticises the
police pay increase. Indianapolis
police department costs now are
$S.08 per capita, while per capita fire
Ncosts are $443.
The report also hits action Of fail
ing to provide the $272,o0o to pay
the light and water deficit which
will exist &C the end OF this year
and not providing enough to meet
the 1928 BILL thus fitting the defct
TO more than 100000 by the end OF
1928.
1T criticises slashing OF the park
department levy from z cents to SIS
cents, which will give the parks de-
partment $4,000 less than 1t had
this year, making impossible pros