The Wrangell sentinel., 1933-03-31
WRANGELL' s FINANCIAL CONDITION
REVIEWED BY MAYOR FRANK BARNES
To Wrangell Citizens,
Dear Friends:

lect a mayor, three councilmen and
two school directors. You will also
be asked to decide two questions
which have been in controversy.
First, whether Wrangell will use
Pacific Standard or Sitka Standard
time, and second, whether you wish
dogs to continue running at large
on the street and the present dog
ordinance enforced, or the discon-
tinuance of dogs running at large.
A year ago you elected me as
your mayor and have sincerely en-
deavored to be of service to you.
AS l believe it is your right to be
informed on everything pertaining
to the city's affairs l have been
pleased to note that comprehensive
report of the council meetings has
been published each month II the
Sentinel. However, it may not be
amiss to briefly review our finan-
cial situation and to correct some
inaccurate statements which have
Bccl1 uhuC ClNlC clIlelll
Indebtedness Reduced
When the present council took
charge there was a balance due the
school board of $4,000; there were
warrants outstanding for $3.50
and the city's share of school eX-
penses for this year was approx
mately $4,000. At the present time
the $4,000 has been paid off, the
$500 due on this years school budg-
ct has been reduced to less than
$4,000 and the $3.50 in red warrants
has been reduced to $3.50. We will
: probably be in a position to fur
Their reduce these amounts in a few
days as license moneys are due to
be returned from the Territory. And
l have been assured by the city
clerk that when the final balance is
taken from the books next week
for the years business, that our
financial status will have been i'm
proved over last year by sum ex-
ceeding $4,000.
Stayed Within Budget
When the present councilmen
took office last year one of their
first acts was to prepare a budget
for the year. I am pleased to state
that we have stayed within this
budget and the only variance has
been in the estimates of revenue
that would accrue from fines in
the police court, the fines being
about $3.50 under our estimates.
Interest on the school bonds has
been paid and all bills incurred by
this council have been paid also.
There were many public improve
ments particularly street work,
which the council would have lik-
ed to make, but at the beginning
we resolved to have year of re-
trenchment and live within the
city's income. Repairs in all depart
ments were kept up, indigents car
ed for; men unable to pay light and
water bills, were given opportunity
to work on the streets, but no new
projects were undertaken.
For the information of the public
l wish to state that the school budg
ct was cut ten per cent last April.
This included salaries of the
teachers. Anyone doubling that
they have had this salary cut,
should ask any one of the teachers.
City Light Plant
The city light plant has been
running smoothly from both serv-
ice and a financial standpoint. The
remaining indebtness to the Inter
state Power and Light Co., is but
$7435. Under the reduced monthly
payment sums recently put into eff
feet, the final payment will be made
on Nov. l, 1884.
The contract for payment of the
distributing system bought from
the Wrangell Lumber and Power
Co. for $4,000, provides for monthly
payments of $3.50 beginning when
the light plant has been paid for.
This will leave approximately $3.50
a month from light plant revenues
which may and should be set aside
for school bonds, payments on
which begin in 1886.
Towns Finances
No one knows better than I do,
both from personal experience and
observation that the citizens of
Z Wrangell have had full share of
financial difficulties and that we
face another hard year. The incom-
ing council will be unable to make
an accurate budget until 1t is
known what action the Legislature
will take on appropriations and
to what extent the canneries will