Milford chronicle., 1933-02-24
.rantland Tells
Need Of Economy
CONTINUED From Page one)

since 1929. In the State of Delaware,
as some of you may be aware, there
is but one municipality in which
there could be any plan of financing
which would approach budget MAX
ing. refer to the City of Whining
ton. Our other cities and towns have
their own financial problems but do
not attempt to administer budget
systems. As fol- the counties, 1t was
said some two hundred years ago
that Delaware had but three cOun-
| ties when the tide was low, and
when the tide came rushing in, the
rivers between the counties -over-
| flowed their boundaries and only
one county was existent. The same
situation prevails today. When the
high tide of this economic depres-
sion Overcame us. New Castle, Kent
and Sussex counties became as one
in an effort to keep our State from
separating into three helpless units.
"In regard to changes in Operat-
ing expenditures. there is a tenden-
cy in the local and county govern
ments to maintain the personnel
and to reduce costs by means OF
ten per cent cut in salaries OF all
classes, although some of the small
Ter cities arc contemplating the
amending Of their charters in order
&c curtail their salary costs by COM
bining two or more Offices with the
only salary. Cost of material ana
supplies for streets, sewers and new
buildings has been reduced cOnsid-
erably. but lack of funds precludes
any activities along these lines. For
this season, there has been de-
crease in the services rendered by
the local government. In SO far as
education is concerned, VIC are fac
ing the. same. situation that Is pre-
valent throughout the country.
While our school authorities were
not disposed to cooperate with eco
nomy programs so long as the funds
TO carry on. were made available,
the conditions now prevailing have
caused our educators TO begin to
sec the necessity OF curtailment in
the lines of work in which they
have gone far alield.
"As TO changes in the burden OF
debt service, in so far as. such
changes relate to municipalities,
there has been very little change in
our State with the exception of the
City of Wilmington, where efforts
during the. first period OF the de-
preston. TO provide made work re-
lief by undertaking projects that
would not have otherwise been en-
gagged in but for such need, caused |
that city to about reach the limit OF
its borrowing capacity. Wilmington
has so far been able to meet its in
tcrest and sinking fund obligations
without any increase in tax rate.
Other cities and towns have not
been obliged to change the weight
of such mandatory burdens as they
have not been seriously affected due
to the very light debt requirements.
with counties burdened with in
tcrest and maturitics of bonds is
sued for road building in more pros
porous times, changes in caring for
debt service became necessary. The
State. with comfortable cash bal
ances in general and sinking fund
accounts in the treasury, began to
assume county obligations as to
funded debt for improved highways
some four years or more past. This
procedure resulted in a marked de-
crease in the county tax rate.
"a Statewide construction Of new
school buildings under the super
vision of the State Board of Educa-
ion, with a prOportionate share of
he cost being met by school dis
.ricts, brought upon these districts
AK burdens which were hard to
bear. The State School Fund. with
cash balances annually in excess of
i've million dollars, was called upon
o meet bond maturitics i'm 1881 aud
1882 and the General Assembly now
IL session will undoubtedly continue
iuch practice during 1888 and 1884.
\gain the local taxpayer was reliev-
ID of another portion of his burden {
,y corresponding decrease i'm his
axes. It may be readily seen that
changes in Delaware from budgets
# municipalities. counties and
choOl districts have in q large
Measure been shifted from local
overnment to State government.
THE emergency brought about by {
he necessity of made work employ
lcnt and direct poor relief was taxi
n care OF, up to this present win
er. largely by private contribu- '
ions with the assistance provided i'm {
york relief by the Highway Depart
nent of the State and several de- {
artments of the City of Whining I
OH. In the agricultural sections of !
ur State the requirements for re- q
ef were met by local authorities.
However, this winter we are con- s
ronted with the necessity of in I
reasing our contributions TO relief /
'ork while we have about come to {
he end of voluntary contributions.
We could hardly expect anything L
lsc with incomes drastically re- =
uced. unemployment increasing t
nd demands upon private cOntribu-
ons becoming more urgent from '
1cial service organizations, hospi- n
lis, child welfare agencies and the +
Ike. who render aid to the aged and f,
firm, help the sick and afflicted, Il
nd care for helpless children. Help c
g able-bOdied unemployed should Il
D longer be the care of private
rarity which needs to devote all Il
S resources to the maintenance of a
le neces ssary welfare service. We v,
Ime to the point where emergency il
relief would have to e
} supported by public funds. W