08-11-41 Council Meeting Minutes

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2'7 5. been increasing annually due to the increased number of motor vehicles on our streets and with the increasing de- fense activity throughout this area. I realize the problem will continue to grow. It is, therefore, proposed to set up a separate traffic division within the Department and the added personnel is necessary to man the Department. The unfortunate angle of this added expense to the taxpayer, is, that here is an expense that he must assume purely because he is unwilling to police his or her own actions while at the wheel of an autbmobile. Courtesy, good manne and the evercise of individual caution could have eliminated this tax item in its entirety. In the Fire Department budget is an item of $1500.00 set up to provide a drill tower for the use of this Department There is mi item of $10,000.00 for preparation for future expansion of the Department, together with the formation of a Fire Prevention. Bureau. It is planned that a survey will be made to determine the proper procedure to give greater efficiency to the Department, either through the consolidation of Stations No. 3 or No. 5 with another Station; the relocation of one or both of these stations or the creation of a double station at the present locatio of No. 10 Hose House. $10,000.00 is set aside for use when this survey and recommendation is completed. It is realized, I am sure, that with the city limits being extended, there is greater areas to be covered by the Depart- ment and with the greater increased building program under way, we must prepare the Department to properly protect the property of our citizens and taxpayers. There is a 5X increase in the levy to provide the necessary funds for the Bond Sinking Fund account. It is necessary.to provide $7,000.00 to defray the expense of a city election. This item is included at the sugges tion of Mr. Henry S. Mu rray,.Chairman of the Indiana Tax Board, because of the uncertainty of the validity of the Skip Election Bill passed by the last session of legislature. $4,000.00 addition added to the Street Lighting Account. An increase of $29,000.00 in the Street Department, which also includes the funds for the Traffic Department. There is an increase of approximately $7,000.00 in the Park Department to care for increase of wages and other items. It is proposed to add an additional inspector in the Board of Health .to be used jointly as Food and Milk Inspector. There is an item of $14,500.00 in the budget for repair of bridges. This money is.expected to be used in the repair of the Sample Street bridge, which is now in serious need of repairs. The total Civil City rate for the year 1941 was 83. 5, the proposed rate for the year 1942' is 82.3X. This, in view of the increased money necessary for the operation of the city, and the revenue necessary to take care of the in- creased costs this year, is expected to come from the following sources: Approximately 554,600.00 from increased gasoline funds; approximately $35,000.00 from the increased assessed valua- tions; approximately $16,500.00 from Barrett Law recovery; approximately $5,000.00 from the sale of properties. It is also proposed to transfer $46,900.00 from the General Funds of the Water Department to the Civil City. The Water Department is no longer required to pay property taxes on their holdings, and since the money which they paid has the effect of lowering the taxes of other taxpayers, it is my thought that an amount of .money equal to the amoux of these property taxes, should be transferred to the Civil City in order that these tazpayers may not be penalized from the loss of revenue which they have had in the past. It is, therefore, proposed to.transfer approximately $38,000.00 representative of two years property tax on the Water Department, plus an-item of approximately $8,900.00 which represents the amount which delinquent accounts in the Department have been reduced. .