Salt Lake Telegram | 1936-09-24 | Page 6 | Parking Meter Receipts

Parking Meter Receipts I MAYOR E. E B. B ERWIN VIN raises a fine point in municipal policy as he proposes that the public safety department be credited with re receipts receipts receipts re- re from parking meters The theory and the hope of the mayors mayor's proposal is that it will permit permit per per- mit the traffic department to keep pace with municipal growth and traffic demands Other j members of the commission however have another idea in the matter They think that aUre all aU re receipts should accrue to the general fund that the city should operate as a single unit rather than as a group of departments Budgetary demands and restrictions make it difficult if not impossible to allow e each ch department individual custody of its receipts The theory of supporting self-supporting depar departments ments no doubt is a good one but it is hardly compatible compatible compatible ible with the extraordinary demands made upon city government Municipal service should be self Metered parking for instance should not imply a loss to the general taxpayer Receipts at least should equal the cost of service and maintenance Otherwise a deficit is created which has to be he financed by the taxpayers who get nothing from the metered service unless they pay for it Similar problems are arc encountered in the water department and the f finance nance departments department's supervision over the city cemetery Wholesome theory would suggest that each of these activities activities ties be supporting self-supporting or that the costs be borne by those who receive the benefits of service The parking meter problem would seem to fall in inthe the same category which would suggest that that the mayor and the commission approach the issue as a general problem affecting all all all' specialized specialized specialized service We can appreciate th the problem which confronts confronts confronts con con- fronts the public safety department in the handling of traffic matters The need for more men and facilities for handling traffic frequently asserts itself It is s one of the biggest problems co confronting fronting the public and the city Knowing ving this this it is not difficult to understand the mayors mayor's request for this additional revenue for this department If the policy however were adopted t in this instance it would have to be met in other departments and it wouldn't be long until all aU special receipts were ear This would I add much to the woes of the f finance department lIt It would upset the budget and generally res result lt iI Sh new concerns concerns for members of the commissIon commission commis commis- sion EjOn and the pUb public c. c