The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1942-07-17
THE CITY COUNCIL

OF the City or Wyandotte, tne hono-
able Louis w Benin, Mayor, presiding
| Roll Call.
| Present: Councilmen Benin, BrOhl'
Burke. Mason. Schultz, Wagar.
Absent: None.
| Minutes.
Motion by Councilman Wagar, sup
ported by Councilman Mason, tina; me i.
reading Of the minutes Of the last meet
ing be dispensed with and the SaIhe
stand approved as recorded.
Yeas: Councilmen Benin Brohl'
Burke. Mason. Schultz, Wagar.
Nays: None.
| Unfinished Business.
| Communication from Edward l.
Path, PatrOlman, WyandOtte I"llce
| Department, requesting hearing ~ 10
charges and sentence placed against
him by Chief w. Z. Rutledge and 10
lice and Fire Commission.
| Miscellaneous Business.
| Applications for renewal of rr-i1il-
rant licenses received from Herbert
Bush (White Swami at 1905 BlddIe
Avenue; Ernest Il. Clemens Eagles,
Port Aerie No. 214S) at 32lS BlGdie
Avenue; and Elizabeth Wi>meg Is
meg Tower at 2J4 Eureka Avenue.
Approved by the required city officials.
Referred TO Council.
| Communication from Local LIE
Michigan Alkali and j. 3. Ford Com
pany, U.M.W.A. District 30 tending
invitation to picnic Saturday. July
-. 1912. at one o'clock pm. al Capl-
tOl Park Telegraph and Sibley roads.
| Received and placed on file.
Communication from Michigan "A
kali Club requesting use Of city dock
TO take on and discharge passengers on
| the occasion of excursion to BOb-LO,
Saturday. August ID, 1912.
| Referred to Council.
Honorable Mayor and City Council
for the City Of WyandOtte
| City Hall
WyandOtte, Michigan
Honorable Sirs:
| The Budget Committee Of the Wy
andOtte Taxpayers Association has
made Il very thorough study of the
proposed budget for the City of Wyan-
dOtte for the ensuing fiscal year and
i'll pursuance TO the report of the com
mittee, our Board of Directors passed
a resolution last night recommending
TO your Honorable Body the suggestion
of reducing the tax rate from $3.50
to $11.JO per $1OO0OO assessed valua-
ton for the ensuing year. We honestly
feel that this can be accomplished
without in any way affecting the
needs and efficiency of our City gov
eminent.
| From an examination of the annual
reports of our City for the past five
years it appears that the average Op-
Grating and capital expenditures for
that period was $3.50, 20S.34 per year
The actual requirement for debt ser
vice for the coming fiscal year will be
SAT ,531.7O. This amount added to the
average operating and capital expendi-
lures totals $707, 74O.04. Since antici-
pated tax collections at $11.J0 will
yield $71O, SS6.42, which amount also
includes revenues from any and all
Onher sources, our Association feels
that a tax rate Of $11.50 should be the
goal Of your honorable body in setting
the budget for the ensuing year
The debt service for 1912 to 1913
will be $47,531.7O as compared to the
average actual expenditure debt ser
vice of $147, 724.26 per year for the
past five years, u reduction of $9S,,
1926 for the ensuing year. There will
he no public welfare requirement to
speak of, $47O.6J as compared 10 an
appropriation of $45SS.67 for last year
or reduction of $411S.O2
The present assessed valuation has
been increased over that of last. year
4 nv oh 60 ono
fore yield an additional $34 10000 fOI
tax purposes. Since there will be a
cash surplus of about SIS, 100000 at The
end of the present fiscal year, a tOtal
Of $1SO,0OO.OO will be available to the
City of WyandOtte at $11.50 per $1,000
20 assessed valuation for 1942-194S
This Is SIT 1882 more than was avail
able for the present fiscal year The
appropriation request Of $100.OOO. OC
for the contingent fund appears to be
too large. Since debt service, street
lighting, water and hydrant mainten
ance can be forecast exactly, no con.
| tingency apprOpria ton is needed foI
those items. If those items and the con
tingent fund itself are deducted from
the total appropriations. only $50.
lpOC'NV VI hCCu UC sup
plemented from contingent fund. Fol
every dollar of this amount - cents
Is requested for a contingent fund
There does not appear to be any juSti
ficatiOn for So large an amount
Mr.. Lawrence MichelmOre of the
Detroit Bureau of Government Re
search in his report addressed to OuI
AsSOcia ton on April 2. 1871. stated
The existence of substantial amount
which may be tapped for supplemental
sums Is constant temptation 10 find
reason for additional spending
From the standpoint of citizens and
taxpayers the budget becomes alm0st
meaningless If the original apprOpria
tiOns can be increased by 2J cents OF
more. In other words. when a cOnting
ent fund exceeds the amount necessary
To cover unforeseen emergencies, the
budget ceases to be a plan and guide
for fairly definite work program
and becomes blank check instead
For a City of WyandOtte, it would
seem that a contingent fund Of ) pei
cent of the gross appropriations, OIL
about $4,000 to $4,000 should b,
more than ample"
Hoping that you will give our reso
luton and the above suggestions your
usual consideration we remain