The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-06-02
Budget

tContinued from Page Ons)
increased Is funds. left ave the
same as last year. scaled three
down and added one new fund. that
for pension and retirement OF NUM-
ciral employees.
Among the items which swslled
the budget was $4,000 allowed the
police department for construc.
ton OF additional cells. II was esti-
mated that six cells for men and
three for women could be con-
structed At the rear OF the present
police station. This action was ad.
mittedly a makeshitt measure and
one which most members OF the
council felt was uneconomicsl In
view OF apparent need for q new
police and court building.
Since voters by narrow margin
turned thumbs down on q new
building council members felt they
were forced TO take the temporary
measure. 1t was pointed out that
last week end ~ offenders were
jammed into the limited accommo-
dations in the basement OF city
hall.
Police Chief Dan Z. L. Patch es.
timated that. II Ypsilant had suf-
ncient Jail Accommodations, revenue
OF the police and justice court
could be increased $4,000 4 year
He cited a recent week end In
which SIS offenders were taken 10
county jail and paid ines In Ann
Arbor courts because Ypsilanti had
no adequate place OF confinement
Arrangements were made where.
by the police force, which now
stands at 20 would include rs men
ofvwhom four would be serseants.
"BuustIna at Seams
Also bursting at the seams" Is
the justice court where difficulties
have reached such a magnitude
that a special committee consist.
ing OF ways and means members, A.
B. Curtis. auditor, and Alfred T. De-
Otte, alderman. was named to stu.
dy the situation and make recon-.
mendations. This action was taken
after a request for relief had been
submitted by the court and after
Mr.. DeOtte explained the greatly
increased work. He pointed out
that in no other court OF the state
where there is a jurisdiction up to
$500 is the justice paid less than
$4,000 yearly or expected to do any.
thing beyond hearing trial cases.
In the Ypsilanti court the justice
department handles minor traffic
tickets and does bookkeeping for
the drivers license bureau. Mr..
DeOtte pointed out that during the
progress OF single trial Justice
A. NJ. Vanderssll has to leave the
court room ten or IS times TO ad.
just traffic tickets. The alderman
referred to this as nuisance bust.
ness" which could just as we'll be
handled at the police department
with a minimum OF irritation or de-
lay to the offender. Only in case
a trial is demanded. should the JUS
tice hear traffic cases. he pointed
out.
Since the problem wa stoo serious
for quick action, the study COM
mittee was named and police and
court appropriation OF $6s,100 was
voted with provision for adjust
ment when the committee submit
tel by Harvey c. Holmes, city clerk,
and $500 more than that OF last
year. Plans for setting up q revolv-
ing fund for purchase of uniforms
OF Ypsilanti police officers were
abandoned but II was decided to
pay for repairs to uniforms dam
aged in the course OF duty.
The only other boost over figures
estimated by the city clerk was
in the park fund. Here again
greatly increased population was
the cause. A thousand dollars
was added to the estimate, making
the total $4,000. Last year the
same department was allocated
$4,000.
Plan Reassessment
A third item. included in the
estimate. but not In the funds last
year, was $4,000 for reassessment
OF property. City Assessor Donald
Comstock pointed out need for plac-
ing property on a scientific basis at
this time. He plans to have a
reassessment based on land value
and building value and to have a
complete card index system where
by exact description OF property
will be on ale at all times both
for comparison OF values In case Of
dispute and for determining in
creased or decreased value in case
OF changes. Provision was also
made for completion OF three plats
for correction OF property descrip-
lions. The plats were started as
a CWA project but were never
finished.
Salaries Increased
Increased salaries also added con-
siderably to the total budget. In
creases we're given in virtually
every department, ranging from SIS
TO $40 per month for those In exc
cutive positions to lesser amounts
for other employees. Only ones
omitted from the general increases
are truck drivers, health officer,
assessor. school crossing guard.
justice OF the peace and market
master. In these cases either a
recent salary adjustment had been
rnada ar the salary had hsen act NJ