The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-08-01
REALTORS BLAST
BUDGET FOR CITY



.,e CITY Council in, continuing side.
walk improvements. The Board
aid that these improvements OBJ
,,;ouslv are being done at a cost
considerably higher than it will be
later on.
Mr. Willetts said that the con-
,orence with City officials was
ought to discuss the proposed bud
,et and the possibility Of lower
.,x rate for the benefit of Will
n,inaton tax payers and inducing
now industries to settle in the City.
City Manager A. c. Nichols said
that the matter would be brought
before the Council in brief ses-
sion this morning.
Mr. Willetts especially condemn
Cd the expenditures of the plan
rin9 survey conducted by George
W simons, Jr., of Jacksonville,
,la As planning consultant for
ne City of Wilmington, the plan
nina board last year was appropri-
ated s7,o95. Included in the new
civ budget is a figure of approx
nstely $4,000 for the planning
hoard. City officials explained that
half of the secretary to the plan
ning boards salary is included in
the $1,000 amount, the balance of
which includes technical services
and other expenses.
Also condemned by Mr.. Willetts
uas the high expenditures of the
City Recretion D p a t m n t,
which last year spent approx
mately 500, 900.
The City budget last year includ-
ID s23.130 for the Recreation De-
nartment, and the proposal this
wear includes the same amount.
However, the City's appropriation
will be augmented with about $751;
900 by the Federal Government.
The City Manager explained
that actually the Recreation De-
partment will get only $4,000
from the City, for the balance of
the s23, 1000 figure will 60 toward
the maintenance of parks and
Fairgrounds.
In relation to the total of ap-
proximately $4,000 proposed for
the Recreation Department for the
current year, Mr.. Nichols said that
the Government has agreed to aug
ment the City's budget with the
s54 600 to be allotted on quarter
" basis, and to continue through
out tne balance of the fiscal year
if needed. Mr.. Nichols was unable
to saw if the entire $154,O would
be spent, but he believed the quar-
terlv expenditures would be utlllZ-
ed throughout the balance of the
calandar year.
Mr. Willetts avered that the City
should "stop singing and dancing
and baby nursing" 1t was his con-
tention that this money should be
spent in an effort to give return
ing veterans proper consideration.
In relation to the City's planning
policy, Mr.. Willetts said that Will
mington should have hired a First
class industrial agent that could
60 out and bring new businesses
into the area"
Mr.. Willetts is member and
stakeholder in Industrial Surveys,
Inc" an organization to bring new
businesses and industries to Will
mington.
Referring to the planning board,
he contended that Wilmington's re-
turning veterans should not be
hampered by red tape and regi-
mentation caused by such bodies.
He stressed that the City will be
hindered in postwar advancement
if such functions as those advocat-
ed by the planning board are carri-
ed out. There should be clean
slate with which to welcome the
returning service men and any
new industries which may be plan
ming to come to Wilmington" he