South Bend News-Times, Volume 36, Number 251, South Bend, St. Joseph County, 8 September 1919 — Page 3

THE SOUTH BEND NEWS-TIMES

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Item

CITY OPERATING EXPENSES 1 Officials' Salaries 2 Police Department 3 Fire Department 4 Street Lighting 5 Street Cleaning 6 Street Repair 7 Garbage Collection , 8 Cemetery Maintenance 9 Park Maintenance 10 Recreation Expense 11 Public Water (all Depts.) 12 Inspection, BIdgs., Elec, Wgts. 13 Public Health Expense 14 Interest on Public Dept 15 Miscellaneous

Total

(1) (2) (3) A . a . i Budget for Estimated Actual Budget for Increase 1919 Expenditures 1919 1920 (3) over (2) $ 35,140 $ 35,830 $ 36,400 $ 570 89,000 107,500 122,000 14,500 105,000 117,000 130,000 13,000 65,000 65,000 65,000 40,000 55,000 60,000 5,000 10,000 15,000 15,000 12,000 15,000 15,000 5,000 7,950 7,500 450 Decrease 17,253 24,303 25,089 786 7,100 7,100 7,527 427 52,213 50,000 2,213 Decrease 11,340 15,908 16,068 160 8,500 8,500 8,500 13.200 19,501 20,652 1,151 18,200 29,116' 19.700 9,416 $436,733 $574,921 $598;436 I $23,515

(1) . (2) , (3) Item Budget for Estimated Actual Budget for Increase 1919 Expenditures 1919 1920 (3) over (2) FIXED EXPENSE 16 Police Pension Fund $ 3,550 $ 3,550 $ 7,527 $ 3,977 17 Firemen's Pension Fund 3,550 3,550 7,527 3,977 18 Track Separation Fund 7,100 7,100 12,545 5,445 19 Sinking Fund 17,750 17,750 22,580 4,830 Total $ 31,950 $ 31,950 $ 50,179 $18,229 BETTERMENTS 20 Park, Permanent Improvements. $ 16,697 $ 39,211 $ 39,634 $ 423 21 Engineering, Streets and P. W.. 13,000 19,000 x 20,000 1,000 22 Street Intersections 15,000 90,000 90,000 23 Fire Equipment 10,250 10,500 250 Total $ 44,697 $158,461 $160,134 $ 1,673 Bond Issue $203,358 Grand Total $716,738 $765,332 $808,749 $43,417

EXPLANATORY NOTES (These paragraphs are numbered corresponding with the items in the above statement)

.1. OFFICIAL SALARIES. A comparison of official salaries as they appear on the attached statement, shows so slight a variation as to make comment unnecessary. Equal responsibilities in private enterprise are commanding today salaries greatly in excess of those paid to members of the City Administration. 2. POLICE DEPARTMENT. Of the difference between the budget for 1919 and 1920, viz: $33,000, but $2,000 results from the increased prices of materials and supplies, and $31,000 results from increases ir; payroll. Similarly, the difference of $14,500, or approximately 15 between the budget for 1920 and the estimated actual expenditures for the present year, is to provide for live additional patrolmen, the need of whom is apparent; and for the increases which were, we believe, with public approval recently granted to police officers as of September 1st. Before these last increases were effective patrolmen were employed at $90.00 per month, and after two years of continuous service were eligible to the maximum pay of $1 10 per month. These wages were not consistent with those prevailing in the' commercial fields of the city. In 1918 there were 68 employes in the police department, and during the present year this number has remained unchanged. 3. FIRE DEPARTMENT. Of the difference between the budgets for 19 19 and 1920, viz: S25,000, but $5,000 results from the increased prices of materials and supplies necessary for the upkeep and operation of the lire department, and $20,000 was required for increases in wages. The difference of SI 3,000, or approximately 12 between the estimated expenses for 1919 and the budget for 1920 is, as in the case of the police department, required principally to provide for increased wp.ges to firemen, whose rates prior to this month were the same as those quoted above for patrolmen, and who likewise were recently granted an advance effective on September 1st. During 1918 there were 68 employes in the fire department. This number remains unchanged for 1919, and the budget for 1920 contemplates no alterations in this figure. 4. STREET LIGHTING. This fund, which carries a separate assessment, is, as the above statement indicates, unchanged. 5. STREET CLEANING. The difference between the budgets of 19 19 and 1920, likewise the difference between the estimated expenditures for this year and the budget as recently submitted, are caused (1) by the higher prices necessarily paid to men employed in this work; (2) to the increased paved area which must be taken care of. During 1919 it is expected that 17 miles of additional pavement will be completed, and the maintenance of these new streets obviously requires a larger force of men and an expanded pay-roll. 6. STREET REPAIRS. The difference between the two budgets, namely, $5,000, is caused substantially by the same conditions indicated in the above paragraph. 7. GARBAGE COLLECTION. As in the case of maintenance of streets, the cost of garbage disposal has been aff ected by the advance in the cost of labor and transportation, although the budget for 1920 does not contemplate any advance from the estimated expenditures for the present year. 8. CEMETERY MAINTENANCE. This item, though small, indicates by its increase of 50 .over the budget of 1919, the effect which increased cost of labor has had on all maintenance expenditures. 9. PARK MAINTENANCE. The difference between the two budgets for 19 19 and 1920 is, as in the case of the four accounts previously referred to, in line with the advance in the cost of -all work where labor and material are required. The difference between the estimated expenditures for 1919 and the budget for next year is negligible. 10. RECREATION. This item remains. practically unchanged, the slight difference being due merely to the undesirability of fixing this separate levy at a fraction of a mill. 1 1. PUBLIC WATER. The South Bend water department is a city enterprise, and prior to this year no charge for water used by the fire department, by the park department, or other city departments has appeared in the budget or expense reports of operating the municipality. In the present year, however, the State Public Utilities Commission has ruled that such a charge should be made", even though it is merely a transfer from the funds of one city department to those of another. Hence the appearance of this item is the result merely of a change in bookkeeping, and does not indicate anv added cost of operation. 12. INSPECTION OF BUILDINGS, ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS, WEIGHTS, MEASURES, ETC. For this work one additional inspector was provided in 19 19 and beyond the cost of

this additional employe, the whole difference between the budgets of 19 19 and 1920 is the result of added cost of materials and supplies, together with several small increases in wages granted by the Common Council. The budget for 1920 provides for approximately the same expense as .will be incurred during the present year. 13. EXPENSE PUBLIC HEALTH. The fund necessary for the operation of the public health department remains unchanged, as the above statement indicates. This fund is provided for in a separate levy, which has been reduced proportionately with the increase in assessed valuations. 14. INTEREST ON PUBLIC DEBT. During the year of 1919 municipal bonds in the amount of $200,000 were authorized, and while these bonds were not issued at the beginning of this year, it was necessary to borrow funds in anticipation of their sale. In this connection the public will be interested in knowing that on the first day of January, 1919, the city had in its general fund a cash balance of $9,000 with which to pay its running expenses. At the present average cost of operations, this amount would be insufficient for one week. 15. MISCELLANEOUS. Under this heading have been grouped a number of comparatively small items such as public printing, heating, upkeep of the city hall, etc. The amounts involved are not large, and therefore detailed explanations are omitted. 16. POLICE PENSION FUND. An act of the State Legislature effective in 1920, provided that the levy for this fund shall be double that of the present year. The City Administration has no discretion in fixing this assessment, and is, therefore, not accountable for the increase made. 17. FIREMENT,S PENSION FUND. Conditions affecting the increase in this fund are identical with those recited in the. previous paragraph. 18. TRACK SEPARATION FUND. The levy for this fund was established at ic per hundred dollars of assessed valuation, which results in an increase of $5,000 between the budget for 1920 and the estimated expense for this year, it is hoped that some program will be worked out between the city and the railroads under which the separation of dangerous grade crossings may be undertaken during 1920. Public opinion will support these improvements for the safety and convenience of citizens, and we therefore approve this addition to the fund in question. 19. SINKING FUND. When municipal bonds are issued with the provisions that the principal shall be paid at the end of a certain number of years, it is customary that an amount be set aside each vear so that, upon maturity, funds will be available for their payment. The increase in

our sinking fund is, therefore, the direct result of the issue of new bonds, and failure to provi

for these added obligations would open the City Administration to criticism. 20. PARKS PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS. The budget for 1920 carries this item at approximately the same figure as the estimate of actual expense for 1919. The increase between the budget of 19 19 and 1920 results (1) from the fact that it cost more to hire labor and to purchase material for the improvement of our park system on a scale consistent with the policy of previous year; (2) that the park board has felt itself justified in executing additional improvements for the convenience, enjoyment and safety of the general public. 21. ENGINEERING, STREETS AND PUBLIC WORKS. The budget for 1920 carries approximately the same amount as is estimated for this itqm for the present year. In anticipation of the extraordinary expansion of South Bend, it has become necessary to survey for and lay out streets, water mains, sewers and other public improvements on a scale heretofore not required. This need is so obvious as to be within the realization of every citizen. 22. STREET INTERSECTIONS. The City Administration has recommended in its budget for 1920 an expenditure of S90,000 for street intersections, an amount exactly the same as the estimated expenditure for the present year. Subsequent to the preparation of the budget for 19 19, and in anticipation of the increased population of South Bend, the Common Council appropriated additionally $75,000 tobe expended in 19 19 this amount over and above the budget of l5,ooo, which was'apparently quite insufficient. Work of this character on streets is a permanent public improvement, will be of a benefit to the city for many years to come, and is, we believe, fully justified by circumstances. 23. FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT. Subsequent to the preparation of the budget for 1919 it was found necessary to purchase a new pressure pump, and some additional hose equipment, to provide for adequate fire protection. Thus the expenditure of $10,250 in 1919, and the inclusion of an item of $10,500 in the budget for 1920 is satisfactorily explained.

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