The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-11-29
ECONOMY THE CITY KEYNOTE

A majority of the members of city
council were elected on the promise they
would reduce municipal expenses. This
promise was in line with many other SINH
lar promises made by innumerable candi-
dates for council in the past. Therefore,
many voters laughed when this new group
of candidates promised economy. How
ever, the voters took chance and elected
these men.
That their confidence was justified is
evident from the terms of the tentative
budget adopted Monday night by city
council. The councilmen took the view
that since the voters wanted economy, they
had clear mandate to cut the city's fl
nancial garment to fit the cloth of income
and the city's ability to pay
The result is tentative budget which
includes an elimination of few city en-
ployes, reductions in the salaries of some
city officials whose pay was considered
out of line with others doing comparable
work, reductions in maintenance costs for
various municipal departments, and finally
a general cut of 10 per cent for all city en-
ployes whose pay amounts to 500 or
more a month
1t is explained by the economy bloc
of council that the city cannot hope to col
lect 100 per cent of taxes levied and as
sessed; that the average over a period of
years is below 70 per cent annually. Yet
the tentative budget is set up on the basis
of 100 per cent collections. Knowing it
will be impossible to attain that goal, the
council adopted the 10 per cent salary cut
proposed by the finance committee. Coun-
cilmen seem convinced it will be possible
to collect around so per cent of taxes due
the city in the next fiscal year.
In order to attain that desired result,
the city council has directed the finance
committee to consider proposal for par
tial payment system of tax collection. If
this proposal is approved, property owners
would be given opportunity to pay in
monthly nstallments The theory is that
many property owners with small salaries
and incomes can meet small monthly in
stallments, but are sometimes unable to
pay the entire tax bill in one payment.
Without examination, it might appear
that two salary cuts for some city officials
was unfair and unjust. However, council
men explain that these reductions will en-
able the city to come close to meeting the
monthly salary requirements in full in
cash. If that result obtains, the average
city employee, although on paper receiving
a smaller salary, will actually receive
larger sum in'cash each month. That will
enable him to meet his current expenses
without borrowing or disposing of war
rants at heavy discount. The city gains by
cutting down the number of warrants
thus reducing the floating debt.
Members of the council state that the
budget is the first serious attempt to bal
ance the budget in some years, that it pro-
vides for retirement of substantial
amount of floating debts, takes care of
bond refunding interest and retirement
provisions and virtually assures that Key
West during this administration will op-
crate we'll within the municipal income.
The budget appears to be business
like document. 1t will inspire confidence
in the municipal government. 1t will help
restore the city's credit. It does these
things without apparently increasing
taxes.
City council deserves the heartfelt
gratitude of the community for this very
constructive action.