Evening star., 1949-12-14

StreamIine Rule
System Would Permit
Non-Portison Voting,
Taxes on Utility Bills
The public got its first chance
today to examine provisions of
a proposal under which Alexan-
dria would modernize its govern
ment.
Foremost among changes rec
commended in a charter submit
ted last night to the Alexandria
City Council are tighter financial
controls and non-partisan voting
for city officials.
The 137-page document also
would make the city attorney an
appointee of the Council rather
than an elective official and would
permit municipal taxes on con-
sumers' bills for utility services.
such as gas. electricity and water.
The proposed charter. twice as
long as the existing law, was sub
mitted to the Council by A. STAN
ley King. chairman of the Charter
Commission appointed last April
to advise the city how its gov
ernment could be modernized.
Mayor Franklin P. Backus said
the document will be considered
in public hearings early next
month and expressed hope that
1t will be ready for submission
to the General Assembly shortly
afterward. The Legislature must
approve any changes.
Modelled on Richmond Charter.
Modelled after the Richmond
charter, the Alexandria proposal
resembles charters long in effect
in some other Virginia cities.
The widest departure from
present practices would involve
city finances. The charter would
abolish the elected Office of city
collector and establish a depart
ment Of finance.
"The present financial difficult
ties are the result of a poor ad-
ministrative system" the Charter
Commission reported, recalling
money problems that have drawn
repeated criticism of auditors in
recent years.
The commission declared it es-
sential for the city manager to
control both budgeting and ac-
counting. At present there is a
city auditor in charge of account
ing who is responsible directly to
the council.
The new department of finance
would function under the city
manager. It's duties. would include
budgeting, accounting and con-
troll, collecting taxes and fees.
control of purchasing and other
expenditures.
The councils auditor would be
retained. He would report to the
council on the finance department
and his duties would no longer in
clude daily accounting of ex-
penses.. An outside firm would
audit the city books each five
years instead of yearly.
Strict Procedure Outlined.
The new plan outlines a strict
procedure to be followed in prep
aration and adoption of the .budg-
ct. It requires the city manager
to submit his estimates at least so
days before the start of each fiscal
year, accompanied by a budget
message outlining proposed flnan-
cial policies for the year.
Besides the general fund budget
the city manager would be re-
quired to submit a capital i'm
provement budget based On pro-
grams proposed annually by the
planning commission.
Some restrictions on bonds are
recommended. No bond ordinance
could be passed as an emergency
measure. and all bond ordinances
would have to receive at least five
affirmative votes in a council o1
seven members.
The charter would clarity the
city managers position.
1T has been frequently said that
some or our administrative ills
- have resulted from the con-
cept of councilmen that they are
assistant city managers" reported
the commission. Alexandria has
had five managers-temporary
and permanent-in the last three
years.
Greater Authority Urged.
"The city managers authority
must equal his responsibility, .
said the commission as it recon-
mended a penalty for councilmer
attempting to give orders to city
employees.
Advocating appointment of the
city attorney, the commission saio
this officer must have a con-
fidential and professional relation
with the city council. The expe.
rience of many cities shows thai
such a relation is most likely tt
be satisfactory if the city attor-
ney is not elected independ-
emily"
The commission proposes nc
changes in electing the city treas.
urer, city sergeant and commits
sioner of revenue.
The plan also would give Che
council authority to operate 9