Evening star., 1932-03-28
SURPLUS REPORTED
AGAIN BY KENOSHA
Wisconsin City Continues TO-
Year Record With No
Financial Difficulties.
BY HI. C. LAUGHLIN,


Director of Finance, City OF Kenosha, Wis
KENOSHA, Wis, March % (N.AN.A).
In these days when the balancing of
budgets has become the most dificult
task of those governing political units
everywhere, the citizens of Kenosha
take pride IN announcing that their
city ends the current fiscal year in
splendid financial condition, with no
difficulties in sight and all its depart
mentS in high state of efficiency.
The city of Kenosha, the fourth
largest city in Wisconsin, has been
operating under a city manager charter
since April, 1922. and has closed each
year with net cash surplus This
year the surplus is S77,85060, not in
Guiding bonds or sinking fund moneys.
The highest surplus it has had during
the 10 years was in 1926, when it
reached 1921 ,923.36, and the lowest oc-
CURED in 1928, when it was S5112716.
These figures have been certified by
State Tax Commission auditors.
Operated on Budget Basis.
Each years announcement has
brought inquiries from distant cities as
to how Kenosha accomplishes a bal
anced budget. First of all. no loans of
any nature during the 10-year period
OF city manager government, for main
mitted or resorted to. The city's oper-
ates on strict budget basis. The en-
tire operation of the city government
IN SO far as permitted by State law, is
comparable with the management of a
private corporation, and comparative
monthly financial statement in detail is
issued
William E. O'Brien, the city manager,
Is the actual head of the administra-
uvifh
ana discharge any employe not per-
forming his or her duties in a satisfac-
tory manner. The Police and Fire De-
partmentS are under civil service con-
troll, and it is real control, with the
result that there is complete harmony
and cooperation.
Equitable assessments and prompt at
tentlon to collections are paramount
functions. KenoshaS municipal funds
are invested In its own municipal bonds,
nSur1ng a high rate of interest. There
IS large local demand for city bonds
In sales over the counter at the CITY
HaA as money is needed.
Unemployment Relief.
Earnings of the finance department
Tor the preceding 10 years were S3l7 600
Sufhclent to operate the city managers
department, finance department and
purchasing department, without resort
ing 10 tax money. Discounts are taken
on all available invoices. The relief
problem now is six times normal. All
departments are required to curtail ex-
penditureS to meet the enormous in
crease for direct unemployment relief.
There Is well organized commissary
1or dispensing unemployment relief |
FOoo, 1uel, clothing, ETC., are purchased
wholesale in large quantities and dis
pensed through this commiSsary. There
also Is splendid cooperation from off,
Gals, other subdivisions of government
and local townspeople
The Wisconsin State Tax Commission
on February "a, 1928, reported that
KenoSha had the lowest ratio assessed
to full value and the lowest full value
tax rate of the four largest cities in
Wisconsin-namely, Milwaukee, Racine,
Madison and Kenosha.
The entire total debt, covering schools.
the general city, parks and utilities, is
1853 per capita. A summary Of savings
follows:
Paving costs were reduced 50 per
cent.
Trunk sewer costs were reduced 65
per cent.
Grade separation, Chicago North
Western Railroad, for entire length of
city by elevation of tracks-cost to
SA0y, % tOsOOO1 OA y pei CCIlI VI the
project.
Acquisition Of parks without cost. S
per cent of newly subdivided areas con-
siSting of So parcels totaling Sc acres.
Major Improvements.
Major improvements include widening
OF streets, opening and extension of
streets and thoroughfares and acquisi-
ton Of parks constituting miles or 20
per cent Of lake frontage, and acquisi-
tion and practical completion of a civic
center.
AL departments are completely equip
ped with the newest mechanical devices
to insure maximum service at a mini
mum cost. The school building pro-
gram has been completed. The first
and only crippled children's school is
operated by tax money under control Of
the board of education.
Practically all of the major projects
laid out some 10 years ago have been
completed. The city of Kenosha faces
the future with decks clear and sails
set, ready TO go ahead.
ACopyright, 1892, by the North American
Newspaper Alliance Inc)