Show Water Fund Practices Told by S. S L. L Auditor i An explanation of f funds and outlays outlays outlays out out- lays of the city water department was given Tuesday by Louis E. E Holley city auditor after the city commission sion was as asked to set up an accounting system outlining g in income in- in come nd expenditures in view yiew of an alleged surplus said to exist in the department by 1 F. F Orin Woodbury president Salt Lake Real Estate board Mr Woodbury appearing before the commission to protest against raising water rates asked for an accounting of a substantial surplus surplus surplus sur sur- plus which h appears appears to to exist in operation of the water department department depart depart- mentHe ment He added that no accounting of funds' funds to meet expenses in replacing replacing replacing ing mains and equipment was beIng being belag be be- ing lag made to aid in determining extent of the alleged surplus Tells Procedure Mr Holley explained that all revenues obtained by city departments departments depart depart- ments go into the general fund and arc are in turn allocated d ba back k to the departments for operating and maintenance expenses On an over all basis the water department nt is allotted back to it from the general fund fOnd almost penny for penny what it contributes contributes contrib contrib- utes ute said Mr Holley Besides operation and maintenance nance expenses of the thc department there are miscellaneous items paid from the statutory and general fund which defray city exp expenses such as fuel for the city and county building water r main redemptions redemptions re re- re- re advertising costs costs special cial improvements taxes taxes' and others All city departments share in ia paying for these expenditures and the water contributes a proper proper- tiona e share he said Small Producers Mr Holley further that some so some ie city departments d such departments such as the streets and arid public pubU safety de departments de- de are are not l large rge revenue revenueS producers except for certain minor incomes In addition the tax levy permitted permitted permitted per per- by law does not begin to produce sufficient revenue to run those other departments out of their own revenue he noted They hey are therefore forced to draw on the general fund to maintain their services He also pointed out that as long back as he could recall the city had a n levy on property property property prop prop- erty for the purpose of ot operating the water department |