The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-06
Statements OF MLetts;
White Before Councilmen

Citing nine specific recommen
dations for budget reductions 10
falling S1O4, 80, Frederick Wil1etts
president of the Wilmington Rea
Estate board, today read to thu
city council the following prepared
statement of the board:
after a careful study OF VI
proposed city budget, the Rea
Estate board in a spirit OF coop
Grafton, and with a desire to as
eist the honorable members OF
the city council in arriving at ar
economical balanced budget, Of
fers the following recommended
tons:
1.-The abandonment of the Of
flee of assistant city manager, and
suggest the delegating OF sucn
duties to someone already on the
city payroll, such as the city clerk
and treasurer, or some other en-
ploye or officer. We consider that
would effect a savings Of $3,6OO.00'
..2.-We recommend the ellm1na-
lion of a separate treasurer and
further recommend that this po'
sition be consolidated with the Of
flee of city clerk, as was custo'
mary in the past. We consider this
would effect an annual savings OF
$500. 90.
"3.-We request and recon-
mend that the councilmen and the
mayor forego the proposed In,
crease in their W salaries which
we consider would effect a saw
ings of 81, 995. 16.
'4.-While we appreciate tne
ability and the value OF the city
attorney. we recommend that the
expenses of this office be reduced
to S., OO0.0 90 per annum which would
effect a savings Of $2,3OO.0O.
"5.-We recommend that you
abolish the position Of city build
ing inspector and purchasing
agent, and consolidate these Of
fees as follows: The duties OF
building inspector be consigned to
the chief Of the fire department,
and that of purchasing agent be
consigned 10 the managers Of
flee. We consider that this would
effect a savings of S 100000.
"s.-We recommend that you
abolish the office Of back-tax col
lector, and further investigate the
tax department with a view to re-
ducing further operation expenses
We consider this would effect q
minimum savings OF $2,550.00.
1--WE recommend that you
eliminate the newly created job
of streets superintendent and let
such duties as that office would
involved remain in the city engi-
neering department, which we
consider is amply stated for these
additional duties. We further rec
ommend that the engineering de-
partment be thoroughly investi-
gated with a view to further reduc-
ton in operationa. expenses. We
consider that our recommendation
in this respect would effect a mini
mum saving of SO, 760.00
"8.-We recommend that you ap-
ply the same business caution. as
Would be applied 10 any other
going business in the red, and that
you Immediately reduce the per-
sonnet of the entire city payroll
equivalent to 10 per cent, which
would effect a savings of $86, 900.
While this may increase the duties
of some individuals, we feel sure
that under the circumstances,
they would be willing to cooperate.
"9.-We recommend also that
economies be effected in the waite:
department to the end that the
suggested increase effective as of
September l, will be unnecessary.
SIN preparing these recon-
mendations to the city council it
is not Our desire to be unreason-
able, and we can assure you that
our sympathies are with you in
this dilemma, and if all or one
Of the members Of the Real Estate
board can be of any assistance in
carrying out these recommended
tons, we shall be only glad for
you to call on US at any time"
Answering critics Of the new ST.
500, 232 city budget for 1947-48 and
explaining the necessity of in
creasing the tax rate to $1.S0,
Mayor e. L. White today read the
following statement of his posi-
ton before the city council:
During the time that I have
been on the council and held the
office Of mayor, l have tried to
study the essential operating cost
Of the City of Wilmington, and
the sources of revenue accruing
to it. My study discloses that there
is a constant increase in the cost
Of operating the essential munich
pal services due to the current
period Of initiation and the constant
increase in the cost of materials,
supplies and essential maintenance
obligations resting on the City.
There are no substantial new
sources Of revenue obtainable by
The City. Due to taxes which cities