The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-03

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units.
1t has been accomplished, too. in
the face of a drop of $180000,000 in
the assessed valuation of city real
estate from 1881 to 1884.
Without this valuation loss,
Mayor Sullivan and Controller
Evans Woollen Jr., could frame civil
city budget for 1885 without drop
ping single item from the present
budget, and need only levy which
would allow the civil city, the school
city, the state, the township and
the county to come within their
$3.50 statutory limitation.
This theoretical budget would give
city taxpayers a rate of SIS cents as
against the $1.18 rate on which the
city council will act Monday night.
The $118 figure is 13-cent reduc-
ton under last years $1.31, high
est in the city's history.
SSH, 162,71O Is Valuation
Administration spokesman say
that the 65-cent rate would be pos
sible if the civil city was operating
in the coming year, 1885, on an as
sessed valuation of $691 ,326,210, the
1881 valuation, on which a budget
was based that year.
The assessed valuation of prop
erty in the city for tax purposes in
1934-1935 is SSH, 162,710. This is an
estimated loss in tax yield of $21 ,062
on each cent of the tax levy.
Statisticians estimate that if the
city now were operating under the
1891 valuation. it would be operat-
ing one cent over its proportional
share of the $3.50 tax levy and that
this cent could be cut to remain
within the legal levy.
'Pay AS You Go" Plan
When Mayor Sullivan took Of
flee he was handed budget in
which $4,000 had been budgeteo
as judgment bonds to pay off debts
which had been piled up over a
period of years.
At the close of 1888, the mayor
presented a budget which showed
a balance of $248, 05898, while 1884
is expected to show $643, 51918, OF
which 1855, 1902 will be used to cut
the citys tax rate and finance ex-
penditures for 1885.
The system in use is interesting
Every department of the municipal
government has been placed on 9
budget control system, which, in
less technical words, is Live
Within Y our Means" plan.
Each department is budgeted or
the basis of seasonal expenses ano
the funds are not divided arbitrar-
lily into equal monthly amounts.
Called On the Carpet"
For instance, the park department
budget for summer months is larger
than for the winter months because
of the naturally greater activity.
Asked for explanation of the
Live Within Your Means" pro.
gram, Controller Woollen explained
that where no records of incurred
obligations were kept by former adj
ministrations, this is changed anc
now ledger sheets in the controller
Office show the disbursements ano
membranes of each department.
When we find department
spending more than its budget al
lows for any season of the year
Mayor Sullivan is notified" sale
Controller Woollen, land the de-
partment head is called on the
carpet by the Mayor and explana'
lions are in order.
THE ledger sheet is our control OF
red flag" continued the controller
IF the explanation is not satisfac'
tory, the department is forced Il
curtail expenses to remain within it
budget. No fund transfers have
been made for any department"
Due to Good Management
Thus, it appears that the city ha!
become q going business firm witt
black-inked ledger for the frs
time in the last six years.
Department heads, said Mr.. Wool
len, are eager to cooperate with tn,
plan for keeping the city out Of deb
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