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November 1 th I ~~ :
<br />
<br />there were
<br />
<br /> At. a special meeting of
<br />present:
<br />
<br /> Vernon A. Brooks, W. R. Hutohins, E. W. Maupin,
<br /> Ogg, Jr R. Stewart -
<br />
<br /> The following Call for the meeting was read:
<br />
<br />the City ~ouncil held November 17th,-1931, at 8:00 P.M.
<br /> Jr., Alden Oast, Archibald
<br />
<br />~'Portsmouth, Va.
<br /> November 12, 1931.
<br />
<br />Dear Sir:
<br />
<br /> Please attend a special meelZlng of the City Ocuhci! to be held in the 0ounoil
<br />0hamber Tuesday, November 17th, 1931, at 8: o'clock P.M., to consider
<br />
<br /> 1st - the 1932 budget
<br />
<br /> 2nd - Any other business that may come before the Body.
<br />
<br />By ChaLvman.
<br />
<br />Yours truly,
<br />
<br />the 1932 Budget:
<br />
<br /> CITY GLEBE Ah-D AUDITOR ,
<br />
<br />following communication w~s received from the Oity Manager in presenting
<br />
<br /> mi respectfully submit t~e 1932 budget estimate totaling $1,315,318.8~,whioh
<br />represents $48,635.~0 less th~n the 1931 budget as passed, less special appropriations to
<br />dat~. _ The estimated receipts for 1932 are $1,342,121.67, which l~aves an estim -
<br />of $26,802.83 over 1932 budget as oresented. Permit ~ _ atedm~.rgm~
<br /> - ~e to state that I f~el the service
<br />rendered our citizens this year is the minimum service they should receive. ~hen we con-
<br />sider that our operating expenses have been reduced mo~ ths, n tYO,O00, d.ttring the last five
<br />years and last year's reduction represented more than $~0~000. of that amount, I feel that
<br />I can conservatively state that the o~ty ~s operating on e~ extreme minimum basis. -
<br /> You will note that the largest reduction, or major part of reduction in
<br />the estimate represents a change in Deb~ Service charges whichL~s fully explained on the
<br />budget sheet. ,
<br />
<br /> WATER DEPARTMENT.
<br />· stimate - Water Department - 1932 - $32E,971.65
<br />1931 - as passed
<br /> - 356,530.00
<br />
<br />Capital Oharges.
<br />
<br /> An estimate for $~2,600. has been requested by the Superintendent of the
<br />~ater Dep~rtment for~transmission mains from Suffolk to Portsmouth, new mains and hydrants,
<br />meter installations, installation of new stoker. I will make definite recommendation on
<br />these items at a later date during the budget hearings.
<br />
<br /> SOHOOL~
<br />
<br /> I have had several conferences with the Superinte~lent of Schools, Mr. H.A.
<br />Hunt, and have gone over the school budget thoroughly and I feel convinced that we have an
<br />effi~ient, economical school system, and I might add that each year for the past five years
<br />the Superintendent of ~chools has not in any way attempted to enlarge the system at greater
<br />cost to the taxpayers. Facts and figures gathered by me throughout the state convince me
<br />that we should go slow in reducing ou~ sohool appropriations. May I suggest a conference
<br />between the School Board, Superintendent of Schools and the Oity Council before acting on
<br />this appropriation, should a reduction in the school budget be considered. I believe we all
<br /> agree on the value of public schools to a city and the intimate connection with the citi~
<br />zen's home life and the future citizenship. If I could convince myself that Portsmouth was
<br />overschooled, so to speak, I would not hesitate to recommend a reduction in appropriation.
<br />
<br /> SALARIES & WAGES
<br />
<br /> Much can be said sklong this line without giving proper thought and consider-
<br />ation.' I believe it is not putting it too forceful to state that it has been a popular pas-
<br />time, possibly for centuries for workers on the public payrolls .to be attacked by many for
<br />salaries and wages which they receive. This is to be expeoted and the city official con-
<br />tinually hears this from year to year, no matter the amount he or she may receive. That is
<br />largely responSible for ~uy men having no desire to study government and watch the many
<br />ch~ngLug conditions in government operation. Private business .has always been more kind
<br />and considerate of the responsibilities o£ their workers, and the co-operationEiven them
<br />has'resulted in great benefits to industry.
<br /> I believe the city emoloyees as a whole certainly do not receive any aalary
<br />or wage larger than is commensurate w~th theLv respective responsibilities. Our police and
<br />fLve departments are anything but overmanned, neither are they overpaid, and our street em-
<br />ployees are certainly giving more than value received for their labors. The remaining nec-
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