The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-09-04
SLASH IN CITY
BUDGET URGED
BY CHAMBER
Rate Cut From $1.31 to
S1.26, This Years Fig
ure, Is Advocated.
COUNCIL TO STAND PAT
Demands of Real Estate
Board Will Be Ignored
at Session Tonight.

recommendations for cuts in the
city's proposed 1884 budget, which
would slash the rate from the pro-
posed $1.31 to sips, the same as this
year, were made to city council to-
day by the budget committee of the
Chamber of Commerce.
Despite the concrete proposals
made by the chamber and pre-
dicted protest move by the Indi-
annapolis Real Estate Board, the
council tonight is expected to stand
pat on it's rate and formally approve
the higher budget.
The chamber slaShed most heavily
the general fund, pointing out that
a reduction of $51 ,045.13 is possible
as compared to the appropriations
before the council.
Contingency Fund Cut
The mayors contingency fund
bore the heaviest load, with the
recommendation that it be cut in
half. to $4,000. Other cuts were
recommended in police department
equipment, city salaries, contractual
obligations. general supplies and re-
moval of the salary of the city plan
commission attorney.
In dealing with the park boards
budget, the chamber asked for a
total cut of $21515. The heaviest
cut of $2,565 is included in abolition
of the post of attorney for the park
board. Other slices are sought in
equipment and materials for park
purposes.
The health board budget was
trimmed $3.50 in the proposal, with
repairs to city hospital cut in half,
to $4,000. Other slices in this divis-
ion were recommended in material
purchases.
Other Reductions Asked
The city sanitation department
was urged to reduce $7,705 from it's
more than $4,000 in appropriation
requests. General services. ma
terials and repairs were used for
the cut.
Operation of the city airport,
south of Ben Davis, was criticised,
withfailure to produce more than
50 .O53 in revenue in 1882, far below
the operating cost, cited.
The committee of the chamber
pointed out funds which still have
balances of almost 100000 and sug-
gested thorough check of these
and. fix possible, deviation OF the
finances from the regular channels
to bolster other departments.
In line with the real estate
boards prediction of a tax strike
unless the $3.50 law is adhered 10,
the chambers report stated:
"A condition of this kind Will
bring the city face to face with a
situation which either will require
Immediate curtailment of expenses
or the incurring of possible deficits.
Survey Is Advocated
Therefore, we venture the sug,
gestion that it is not too early Tor
officials to make a complete survey
of city departments and functions
and prepare a listing of those which
most easily might be curtailed or
eliminated, so that, if the worst
happens, some kind of program will
have ben outlined 10 meet the en-
Urgency"
With the budget started tonight,
it is expected to be continued Tues
day. when the county council opens
its doors to persons seking to pro-
test the tentative rate.
The council started its closed
doors sessions with rate of rs
cents in view, but since has pared
several items.
~Formal hearings are expected TO
take the entire week ana council
men indicate they expect be 9%.s
to slice the 76-cent mark to below
so cents.