The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-07-20
(Official City, State and County
NeWSpaperl
Attend Budget Hearing

the determination of city, county ane
school budgets. Next Wednesday eve
ming at 8 o'clock, the voters of Bis
marck are invited by the members o
the city commission to attend a hear
ing on the city budget. These public
servants need the advice and coopera'
ton of the people of the city. There
is too little interest shown in city
county and school expenditures.
There is a general feeling in Bis
marck that the city and school bud
get should be slashed this year sc
that the burden of taxes will be easeo
somewhat. 1t is urged by many tax
payers that payrolls be cut, frills
eliminated and an absolute veto be
put on all purchase of new equipment
and public Improvements.
While business enterprises of this
city are putting their affairs in shape
to meet decreased business volume
it is incumbent upon the city com.
mission that it trim city expendi.
lures to the bone.
There are certain fixed charges
which cannot be reduced. Study Of
other items, however, in a spirit o.
fairness and without political rancor
should result in material reductions
The city chambers should be crowd.
ed Wednesday with taxpayers willing
to make suggestions and to learn
how the affairs of the city are being
conducted.
Unfortunately. the official proceed
ings Of the city commission are not
published as are those of the county
Taxpayers are more or less in the
dark as to how the money is being
spent. A monthly resume of the city's
business showing all bills paid and
the condition of the city finances
should be published in the public in
terest. For years this was done and
it was a curb upon expenditures.
The cost is almost negligible and the
value of such publicity is far in ex-
cess of its cost. City, county and
school budgets should be published
in detail.
The Tribune last Saturday pub
lished the city budget. It fails to re-
fleet exactly the city's fiscal affairs
but is the best guide obtainable. The
city's payroll should be published in
detail and there should be shown in
round figures at least just what pro-
portion of special assessments have
not been met and must be put into
the budget and paid through a gen.
eral tax levy.
Operations of the water depart
ment should be shown in detail
Economies of operations might be ef-
fected there.
These and other matters should be
discussed at a general meeting of the
people of Bismarck with their public
servants. The city commission does
not want to hide anything from the
eyes of the people and stands read,
to put all cards on the table. Hely
them by attending the general budge'
hearing next Wednesday evening. L
no interest is shown, the city commits.
sion is justified in feeling that Their,
is no demand for tax reduction ane
that the budget, a. published in alb
breviated form in The Tribune, i
satisfactory.
1t is too late to protest after 70,
get your 1882 tax statement. Bette.
do it before the city, county ant
school budgets are adopted. Schoo
officials, who really spend the mos
money, should draw their budget il
conference with the people or a rep
r%esentative tax committee. Immed'
late tax reduction is the creates
service the public servants can Civ
this year to the people of Burleigt
county.