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November lO~h~ 19.56.
<br />
<br />REVENUE
<br />
<br />on
<br />on
<br />
<br /> The revenue has been computed on the present tax rate of $2.65 per hundred
<br />real estate and personal property; a~ one dollar per hundred on machinery; license taxes
<br />the 1936 schedule, and all other items of income at actual or estimated figures.
<br />
<br />BALANCE UNAPPROPRIATED
<br />
<br /> It will be observed that the difference between the estimated reven~e for
<br />General Governmen~ and recommended appropriations, is only $5,5~9.00, which is entirely too
<br />close. The difference, in my ~udgment, should approximate twenty-five thousand dollars, in
<br />order to provide a safe margin against contingencies and emergencies. However, to orovide
<br />the margin of $5,559.00, it was necessary ~o cut the Departmental requirements to tRe bone.
<br />
<br />FERRY RECEIPTS
<br />
<br /> It is estimated that receipts fnom the Ferries, in 1937, will exceed those
<br />of 1936 by $15,000.00. This es~tmat2d increase has been included in the 1937 revenue. But
<br />for ~his, s~ill further ou~s in the appropriations would have been unavoidable.
<br />
<br />ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL NONEY
<br />
<br /> The A.B.C. money was not included in the 1936 budget, but was handled as a
<br />separate item, and was appropriated, in its entirety, to direct, and work relief. The esti -
<br />ma~ed 1937 A.B.O. funds, of $21,000.00, have been included in the estimated 1937 revenue, and
<br />have also been applied to direct and work relief, in the recommended appropriations.
<br />
<br />DEPARTNFi~TAL DEM~NDS
<br />
<br /> The sum of the appropriations requested b~v the Departments exceeded the total
<br />~ncome by $3~,396.20. Department heads felt that their requests were very conservative, and
<br />we agreed with them; ~wever, in order ~o hold the expenditures within the incom~, it became
<br />necessary to make reductions ~n many requested appropriations and to leave out, entirely, some
<br />very desirable items which, otherwise, wo~uld have been included.
<br />
<br />$112,585.30 NOTE
<br />
<br /> Should the City, at this time,comply with the suggestion of the Sinking Fund
<br />Commission, to curtail the ~112,585.30 note, five thousand dollars and pay 2% interest, an
<br />ditional budgetary appropriation of $7,252.00 will be necessary, which will not only dispose
<br />of the unexpended balance of $5,559.00, but will also result in an excess of appropriations
<br />over estimated receipts, of $1,693.00. Under the circumstances, I have made no provision in
<br />the budget for this.
<br />
<br />S~LARY RESTORATIONS
<br />
<br /> It was, obviously, impossible ~o consider salary increases or restorations,
<br />notwithstand~ing the fact that many of ~he employees are underpaid and deserve increases.
<br />
<br />FBEE SCHOOL BOOKS
<br />
<br /> It is obvious that ~he City is not, at this t!me, in a position to provide
<br />the money necessary for t~e purchase of school books. It appears ~o me that the policy and
<br />the initiative of supplyin~ free school books, may rest with t~e School Board, rather than
<br />wi~h the Council. This statement is influenced by SeCtions 611 617-692 and 619 of the Virgi-
<br />nia Code, w~ich ! quote hereinbelow:
<br />
<br /> "The establishment and management of the public school sys-
<br />tem is vested in: AState Board of Education, a Superintendent of
<br />Public Instruction, a Superintendent of Schools, and 0ounty and City
<br />~chool Boards. (Section 611) ~
<br />
<br /> ~ne selection of text books and. educational appliances is
<br />placed with the tta~e Board of Educatmon. (Section ~17)
<br />
<br /> The several county school boards and the several ~ity School
<br />boards are authorized, in ~heir discretio~, to furnish, free of
<br />charge, to ail pupils in public schools,~all books adopted for use
<br />in said schools, said books to be paid for by the county or city
<br />out of the fund provided therefor in the school budget. Ali school
<br />books furnished, as authorized by this Section, shall remain the
<br />property of the county or city furnishing the same, and shall be
<br />loaned to the pupils on such terms and conditions as ~he count~
<br />board or the city school board may prescribe. The county
<br />s~d the city school board s~haI1 adopt such rules and regulations as
<br />may be necessary to provide for the proper care of said books and
<br />for their return by the puoi!s, at the conclusion of the school
<br />year.(Section 692)
<br />
<br /> The State Board of Education may provide in contracts with
<br />publishers, that the publishers shall sell direct to local school
<br />boards a~ wholesale prices. The State Board may also stipulate t_hat
<br />~he local board may furnish said ~ext books
<br />wholesale price, or a~ such other price no~ exceeding fifteen per
<br />cent added ~o the wholesale price.(8ection
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