Evening star., 1949-09-07
Alexandria Cuts
Costs $4,000
To Trim Deficit
Economy Ordered
In Effort to Offset
S450,00 Unbolonce

Ill klIOit ~ SIISCt
$450,00 UnboIonce
Alexandria took in its belt an
other notch today in a move to
make up a s45o,000 deficit in its
budget.
Acting City Manager Joseph
Pancoast issued directives to city
department heads calling for cur
tailment of expenditures totaling
$4,000.
This move is the latest step
taken to bring into balance before
the end of the year a $3,936,624
budget which was thrown out Of
balance by a mistake of former
city administrators. Mr.. Pancoast
disclosed his plans to issue memo
randa-which would amount to a
directive to the city department
heads at a City Council meeting
last night.
simultaneously. Leroy Bend
helm of the Finance Committee.
said a detailed report on where
the savings are expected to be
made will be given to the council
in about two weeks.
1--WE already have found how to
save $410,000." Mr. Bendheim
said. We may be able to find
more"
Surplus" -Existant.
The city's budget mistake came
to light in July when a report
by the auditing firm of Ernst &
Ernst was made public. The
auditors said that the administra-
ton of all funds was done hon.
estly.
The report did show, however.
that the budget of former City
Manager Nicholas Colasanto for
the current fiscal year carried
over a $219,o74 surplus" which
never materialized. If any sur
plus did exist, the auditors said,
it should have been applied to
a $17,152 deficit which was shown
at the beginning of this year.
The mistake, attributed by the
Finance Committee to "antiquated
and outmoded accounting meth
ods," presented the city with the
problem of a $236,000 deficit with
which to start the year.
Since then, anticipated revenues
have Jagged so that at the cur
rent rate of income, the Finance
Committee figures the deficit
would be $450,o0o at the end Of
this year-that is, without the
contemplated savings that Mr..
Pancoast's directives will carry
out.
On three occasions while the
consul transacted other business
last night, Mr.. Bendheim's watch
dog attitude was reflected,
:" Two Pay Raises Rejected.
The first was a request by the
health officer, DR.. T. F. McGough.
for authorization to raise the SAL
ary of two, Health Department
employees. DR.. McGough did not
propose to raise the salaries be-
yond the amount already allowed
for the two positions in the bud
get. He had followed a practice
of hiring the employees at lesser
salary in the beginning with the
idea of raising their pay to the
authorized amount when they had
proved their worth.
Mr.. Bendheim cautioned against
granting any raises before the end
of the year unless the budget is
brought into balance. DR.. Nc
Coughs request was voted down.
Again when City Assessor Fran
csi Dreschler asked for an addi-
tional clerk to break in on job
80 days before the resignation Of
another clerk, Mr.. Bendheim ex-
pressed the same note Of caution.
The council referred this matter
to the Finance Committee, how
ever.
Also vetoed was a request by
the Fire Department to increase
from $500 to $3.50 the authorized
expense account of f1remen who
will attend State Fire School in
Roanoke. Mr.. Bendheim advised
other councilmen to be consistent
with economy"
The Finance Committees re-
port will be made at a meeting,
September 27, when the new city
manager. Guy w. Ancell, will have
taken Office. Mr.. Ancell is due
to assume his duties September IS.
Mayors First Meeting.
It was the first session for Mayor
Franklin T. Backus and Council
man James N. Duncan. jr.. former
fire chief. Mr.. Backus was pre-
sented a gavel by former Mayor
William T. Wilkins, whom he de-
feated in a primary earlier this
year.
The Council declined to act at
this time on a report by Marshall
j. Beverley warning that about
$4,000 worth of city equipment
is in danger of destruction because
of inadequate facilities at the city
garage and shop. He criticized
failure to start construction OF
new sheds. The building in
spector has condemned the pres
ent structures and the fire marshal
has classed them as a hazard, hA
said.
Another request by Mr.. Beverly
that all contractors be required to
furnish the city the names of sub
contractors doing work for them
within Alexandria, was referred
to the city manager. Mr.. Beverly
charged the municipality is los
ing thousands of dollars annually