Evening star., 1949-07-27
$219,074 Error
In Alexandria
Budget Found
Council to Employ
Accounting Firm
To Revise System
By Mary Lou Werner

oy mary LOU werner
The Alexandria City Council
last night moved to revise its
financial setup after receiving the
annual audit showing a $219,074.50
mistake in the preparation of this
years budget.
The council voted to employ
an accounting firm to study and
revise the general accounting sys-
tenn and plan department OF
finance.
The audit disclosed that .
$219,074.56 surplus had been in
cluded in this years anticipated
revenue when the budget was pre-
pared. Members of the Finance
Committee said former City Man.
ager Nicholas Colesanto, who
prepared the budget, said this
sum represented uncollected taxes
and bills that would be COM
ing in.
Albert A. Smoot, a member OF
the Finance Committee, said none
of the surplus" materialized. Ho
said City Manager Robert S. Mar
shall, jr., and the Finance Com
mittee had discovered the mistake
before completion Of the audit.
The auditors said if any surpluses
existed, it should have been ap-
piled against $17,152.9o deficit
that existed at the beginning OF
1949.
Possible S236,00o Deficit.
The deficit plus the $4,000
of enormously anticipated surplus
means that the city faces a pos
sible $236.000 deficit at the end
Of this year.
The finance committeeman said
they believed through proper ad-
justment. the city could end this
year with a balanced budget cor
at least - with no greater def.
cit than existed as OF January l.
194e."
I'VE wish to point out that while
this adjustment in the 1949 bud
get will be made" the COMMITTEES
said. cit will be done with as little
sacrifice to the performance OF
necessary work in the city and the
normal progressive advancement
Of the municipality"
Funds Administered Honestly"
The committee said the audit
showed that all funds handled by
the various city departments "were
administered honestly" The audit
was made by Ernst & Ernst. The
committee said mistakes made in
the administration of funds. were
fdue primarily to antiquated and
ottmoded accounting methods"
The committee said there was
nothing new about the auditors
report Of 'laxity" by the Com
missioner of revenues Office in
turning over the city collector lists
Of people who failed to pay per-
sonnal property taxes.
1.-THE report points out that the
commissioner of revenue has not
as yet delivered to the city col
lector the 1947 or 1948 sup
Elemental assessments" said tho
Finance Committee. 1--WE are con-
vinced that a prompt submission
Of these supplemental assess
ments would result in a substan-
tial increase in the operating
revenues. ."
Slum Report Reading Barred.
In other business. Councilman
Marshall j. Beverley was ruled
out of order when he tried to have
the city manager read a report on
slum conditions and slum clear
ance. The report had been pre-
pared by the city manager at Mr..
Beverley's request and the coun-
Gilman said later that 1t showed
the existence Of Are hazards and
health menaces.
Councilman r. Samuel Luckett
requested that the report not be
read. Mr.. Beverley said after the
meeting that Mr.. Luckett is a part
owner Of an "old barn" in the rear
of the 900 block of King street,
one of the properties which has
been condemned by the fire mar
shall.
II believe it is time that the
citizens know the truth of condi-
tions," Mr.. Beverley said. If I
am gagged by the council I will
give it to the press"
At the request of City Manager
Marshall, the council went on rec
ord favoring construction Of q
bridge across the Potomac River
from Alexandria to Shepherds
Landing. Mr.. Marshall said he
was told by the State Highway
Department that Alexandria's op-
position to the bridge was the
principal reason it was being held
up, but he could find no record Of
any city opposition.
It was voted to purchase two
lots adjacent to the new colored
high school for $4,000. The lots,
councilmen said, are to be used
for recreational purposes.
Columbia Pike Citizens