The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-02
CITY ABANDONS
ALL HOPE OF
BUDGET SLASH
Council, Vigorously Opposed
to Pay Cuts, Backed
Against Wall.
BY LOWELL NUssBAUM

City councilmen today virtually
had abandoned hope of effecting
any substantial reduction in the
1882 city budget and levy.
With the budget slashed more
than 100000 below this years bud
get before it was submitted to the
council, members of the council are
experiencing difficulty in finding
items which can be sliced without
impairing operation Of city depart
ments next year.
AS the net result of four budget
committee meetings, the council has
been able to decide on tentative re-
auctions of only S11 ,230, the equiva-
lent Of only z mills in the tax levy.
Predictions that the 1882 city tax
levy will remain at $103, as adver-
tised, freely were made at the bud
get committee meeting Tuesday
night.
Battle Salary Cuts
An almost overwhelming senti-
ment against salary cuts, as pro-
posed by Board of Trade officials.
was apparent at the meeting, which
was attended by only four members.
The committee will meet again to-
night
At previous session councilmcn
considered salary cuts on a sliding
scale, with the larger cuts for the
higher paid employees, which would
have resulted in a budget cut of
about S150000, equal to 21a cents in
the levy.
City officials and Albert F. Walls
man Of the Indiana Taxpayers As
ISOLATION were to confer today with
state tax board officials in regard
to Walsman's charges of error in
computing the levy, which, if cor
rected, ne said, would permit 5.45
cents levy cut without disturbing
the budget.
Prevented by Law
Practically the only reduction
effected Tuesday night was tenta-
tive decision to reduce salaries of
nine police women to 5000 year
Five other police women assigned to
juvenile court would receive $3.50
a year and four matrons would re-
ceive $1,000 a year.
At present police women are re-
ceiving the same pay as second
grade patrolmen, $2,026 a year, but
the budget as submitted to the
council carries a reduction next
year to $1,32O. Cutting wages of
the nine would save $6,480 a year.
Councilmen and safety board off,
Gals favor eliminating all but five
Of the fourteen police women, but
are prevented by law from dismiss
ing them arbitrarily.
Letters presenting objections to
dismissal or cutting pay of the five
police women assigned to juvenile
court have been sent to city officials
by Juvenile Judge John F. Geckler.
Seek to Cut Expenses
James E. Deery, city attorney,
was instructed by councilmen to
prepare an ordinance requiring city
departments to obtain approval of
the city controller before contract
ing any obligations above 500 and
below $4,000. At present there is no
check on expenditures below $4,000,
all above this figure requiring coun-
Gil approval
The ordinance was proposed as a
means Of holding down department
expenditures.
Views of a committee representing
the Indianapolis Federation of
Community Civic clubs were voiced
at the meeting by John F.. White.
While opposing salary cuts for
city employees, White urged that if
the council should decide on SAL
airy cuts, that the cuts be made
only in salaries above $4,000. These
cuts would not include police and
f1remen.