OCR Text |
Show of the conscience of the individual While it is! true that it can maintain expenditures by in- creasing the tax rate, the action is not consistent with good management and the needs of the hour. The city officials have an aggravating problem on their hands and on its solution in a manner to satisfy the citizenship rests the test ! of their greatness. j The City Budget DEARIMjf,i(i''fru'itd the -(Jorrrpialirt -registered by the citizenship when the tax rate for 1920 was fixed, the city commission must prepare its 1921 budget with caution. Material savings must be made to bring the 1921 levy under the 10-mill mark and nothing else will satisfy the taxpayers, who are still rankling under the tax burden of 1920. The preliminary requests on the city finances indicate a need for a levy as high as the one made In 1920. The commissioners have wisely referred these estimates back to the several departments for revision and reduction. It is evident that only rigid economy and the paring of expenses to the bone will reduce the tax levy for the current year. The commission must choose now between operations, which will reflect frugality and thrift, even at some sacrifice, and widespread criticism which must follow a failure to reduce the tax rate. When the individual finds himself in the position which the city now faces he has no choice. He cannot consistently blame the condition to his employer and demand an immediate raise In pay to cover increased needs and expenditures. His first move is to hold a family council and determine upon ways and means of reducing expenditures. No doubt he and his family wilT be compelled to forego many of the things they want and some of the things they need. The choice, however, m be between this and bankruptcy, bank-ruptcy, which is the ultimate in any undertaking that spends more than it produces. In its conduct the city must become possessed . saSaBBBBBjSBjSBSjBaBBJSaSSBjSSBSBBBSBSBBBB |