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PAGE TEN THE OSHAWA DAILY TIMES, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1940 Tax Rate of 29 Mills Is Forecast for 1941 1940 Surplus $32,431 (Continued from Page 1) and $129,200.08 interest, or nearly a half million dollars altogether. As a result the city's total debenture debt has been decreased to $2.- 211,656 which is more than three million dollars below the peak load of $5,216,416 of 1930. Interest Costs Down The result of the increased tax payments and improved financing methods inaugurated in the past two years is a sharp decrease in in- terest costs. This year $3.826 was paid in bank interest than last year and the 1940 total was less than half the interest charges paid in 1938 when the so-called labor coun- cil was in power, The surplus of $32,431 is made it) of $18,839 saving in relief costs. plus increased revenue resulting from the sale of city-owned property through the $50 lot scheme, sale of land to the P.U.C. and to the On- tario HEPC. Treasurer Blackburn gives a com- | prehensive review of the city's en- tire financial position in his report in addition to a large number of illuminating statistical statements. The treasurer's comment wt cedes the 16 pages of statistical fig- ures is as follows: Revenue And Expenditure Revenue from all sources, excead the budget estimate for the year 19040 by $18.885.37, while expendi- tures fell short of the budget by $13,545.87. This means that the city will finish the year with a surplus of $32,431.00. Althou figur has been reached aft estimating the requ December, the indicat a reasonable view of w expected, when the final is prepared after the clc year. The items principally attrib to the increase in revenue, sale of general building lots $5.004, sale of lands to Public Utilities Commission and Provincial Hydro $8990, police court fines $1893, poll tax $950. The drop in expendi- tures from that estimated. is due to the considerabel improvement in relief requirements. The cost to the city for direct relief ] ministration is $4621 with the Welfare Board' $65,051, or $18.840.00 under the es- timate. While sale of real estate is res- ponsible for some $14000 of ti surplus, it should be pointed ou that expenditures of a canital n ture have been taken care of improvements to city liams building, central stallation (to heat clty Williams - building) provided for in the es have also been set asid stallation of traffic cont three locations total $5803. Outsi ditures on improy tioned. practica ary operating costs trollable by the C kept within the ance. ich pre- for is t may be statement nse of the utable for Council budgeted were allow- Debenture Retirements During the year, principal totall- ing $362.496 21, and interest coupons amounting to $1 9.200.08 have been met. These figures include ments on behalf of the Public Util- ities, and Housing Commission, and collected from them amounting to $86,114 84 principal, and a. | interest. Altogether, debenture a interest coupon payments, includ- ing schools, local frontages, efc., but ities and Housing, per cent of taxation, During the ten vear period, 1930- 40, our bonded debt has heen re- duced from $5216.00 to $2,211,656.00, or a reduction of $131.92 for every man, woman and child in the City. Our total debt in relation to the taxable assessed valuation is 8.34 per cent. Tax Collections Although the amount to be col- lected in taxes both current and arrears was less this year by $113,- 180 than in 1939, the collections in- cluding a conservative amount esti- mated for December, exceed those of 1939 by $29,000. The total of $093,183 collected is greater than the year's lesy by $65281, and is equivalent to 107.03 per cent of the 1040 tax roll, as compared with 99.64 per cent last year. This excells our previous best year of taxes col- lected in 1937 when 105.63 per cent was recorded. While the improvement in collec- tions is a commendable one, the ar- excluding util- absorbed 37.41 | action, rem¢als $2,159 and | | pay- | improvement | tion, is naturally reflected in the lesser interest bill' which shows a reduction in 1940 compared with 1939 of $3,826. A further indication of our improved cash position over that of two years ago, is found in comparing the total interest bill on current borowings made up of bank loans, commutation funds held by the city, and tax prepayment re- ceipts, .which for 1940 is $5,169.00, against $11,153.00 in 1938. With improved the policy since 1932 of advancing the data for the payment of the first instalment, from June lst tQ | tor jn reducing our interest bill. Debenture Refunding In January of this year, deemed advisable to pay off housing loans obtained from the | province in the years 1919 and 1922; | and which had fallen considerably into arrears. These loans carried an interest rate of five per cent per annum payable semi-annuaily. The total loan outstanding at the first | of the year was $160,000.00, and the | city, by an issue of new debentures of that amount over a thirteen year period, with varying interest | coupon rates of three per cent the first two years, three and one-half per cent the next five, and four per cent the last six years, sold the bonds to a firm of Toronto bond brokers at a price of ninety-nine dollars per one hundred dollars, be- ing an average interest cost of 397 per cent per annum. By this trans- should escape the necessity of levying in the tax rate moneys to meet housing ture payments, which under the ori- al scheme the province was in- ng upon, The first annual pay- on the new issue falls due De- cember 15t} 5s year, and at No- vember 30th we had collections on hand from housing repayments ap- plicable to refunding loan $6,048.30 in excess of the required amount. This should reach $7,748.30 he close of the year. These ex- s of course have been car- led to our commutation fund and 1 be applicable to future deben- e and interest payments of this loan the cily ment the was a another anged hough the refunding measure in October last; and a bonds are dated No- vember 1st, deliv 'ery will not be ompleted unti } December 17th. This conc erns the original issue of $520,- the Prov hl Hydro : Power Commission covering hase by the city from the 1929 of the electric 'and These bonds carried an rate of 4' per cent per 1m payable half yearly. The re- iing of $228000 is made up of es, $108,000 electric--six vear serial, sold at a cost of 3.65 per ent; and $120,000 gas, fifteen year sold at a cost of 4.11 per or an average interest rate:on the whole of 3.90 per cent, The fav. ing in interest over the period the electric and gas bonds run, will amount to approximately $28,000 Before leaving this subject of re- funding, it occurs to me, that the occasion presents an opportunity to remind the rate-pavers of the efforts Councils of keep Oct list." in plants erest erial, cent, the years 1932-1935, to 1awa out of the "defaulters Had we failed in our objective in these trying years, orable refunding rates of interest just recited could have heen obtain- ed While succeeding councils have contributed in no small measure to the greatly improved condition gen- erally of our civic finances, the councils charged with the task of administering the depression, are particularly de- serving of our appreciation. Tentative Budget 1941 The estimates prepared by* the Licenses .. ... Fire Department 'Services ne : Weigh Scales ... .. "ee Penalties on Tax Arrears APE hy aie Over Budget Estimate Taxatfon General Municipal ... Taxation from Troniagss Poll Bax... .. van nes Police Court Fines, Ete. Building Permits and Sewer Oomnictions . BugfTax ... ., voikee Rentals Williams Building oes various departments, have for the most part been included as submitt- ed. It is not proposed to go into lengthy detail, since the figures are essentially tentative in character; and consequently are not binding on the incoming administration, J} whose responsbility it is to fix the tax rate. I would point out how- ever, that the budget proposed by the Welfare Board for relief pur- poses, shows a reduction of sixty- eight per cent from the estimates of 1940, or $175,124 gross. The city's share based on a continuation of government ald to the extent of eighty per cent, will with adminis- with the amount levied in 1940 (ex- clusive of debentures) of $65,051. When the surplus in the relief bud- get of 1940 is applied, the levy In 1941 for our share is reduced to $4,- 055 plus relief debenture payments tax collections, | it was | the | loan deben= | successfully put forth by the | no such fav- | the affairs of the | city during the four worst years of | « timated: REVENUE Under Budget Estimate "ee re see SE Bes ses wes wre wre wee tes eee ses a of $8,890.00 | General debenture payments 1941 affecting the tax rate, show a | reduction of $15,000. Frontage de- | benture payments are less by $7.- | 654.00 which will accrue. to Increased appropriations appear in the estimates of | ment $1,144, police department $1,972, board of works $9,765, parks | board $1,000, liibrary and board of education $3,724. Ser- more or less uncontrollable which appear to require increased | allowances are, hospitalization - | $1,240, children's shelter $3,080, and county home for aged $450 Tax Rate Of 29 Mills After applying the surplus in the relief budget from 1940 and also the estimated sundry revenue collec- tions and government grants; the amount to be raised in 1941 is $771.- 273, compared with $803.581 in 1940 With the assistance of a greater taxable assessment yielding $10,000 the rate necessary to meet the es- timated requirements is twenty-nine mills, a reduction of one and one- | half mills. It must not be overlook- ed, that the rate mentioned is bas- ed on the assumption that the poi- iey of - the provincial gove } in subsidizing the municipalities the extent of one mill, will tinue In these troublesome times would be unwise to predict what even the immediate future has In store for us. It is becoming jncreas- ingly. apparent however, that. Can- | ada's whole resources: miist be thrown into the struggle. Muni cipal governments I believe, sho t votce themselves entirely dur war, from capital expenditu immediately essential; and doing, our maximum effort can be made, not only financially, but also in man power and material | | | vices | any major improvements durir past eight years, we. are fortu in the possession of adequate facil- ities in the matter of schools, el tric and water utilities streets, and sanitary sewers would be. no hardshin ther to strictly confine ourselves to pre- serving and maintaining these as- | sets; and in providing the ordinary { civic services necessary to the wel- fare of the community. Subject the provincial governments atti- tude in the matter of subsidies and relief, it should be possible to the tax rate at twenty-nine for the next two years, out of w funds can be set aside to meet em- ergencies after the war In closing, may I be permitted to | publicly thank the mayor and mem- | bers of the city council for their thoughtful co-operation during the year. Candidly, it has been a real pleasure to work in committee with those aldermen with whom my du- ties brought me in close contact The affairs of the city conducted most harmoniously and from my observation, well adminis- tered. In wishing all the compli- ments of the season, my hope is, that the fortunes of war recently more favourable to us, and the the common enemy another year; overthrow of accelerated. Gains And Losses The statistical details of the city's surplus are given in the fol- | lowing statement showing where re- venues and expenditures exceeded the budget or were less than es- $1,600.97 25.00 175.00 348.54 $ 2 140. 51 $ 745.55 25.43 950.76 1,693.00 520.43 14.55 998.71 ese ane "es sae sss ese CR TE TT Tr sre ese ses see ees ese ses ses ses tration, amount to $22,095 compared | in | : : | Surplus in Operations ... the | i | benefi he properties affected, | April 15th, is also an important fac. | benefit of the prope the fire depart- | board $1.000, | to | have been | will be still | | more pronounced with the dawn of | complete | Relief--City's Share after crediting Government Grants 18,839.92 $ 25,326.94 Over Budget Estimate Housing Commission ... Municipal Buildings Upkeep & Civic office Rental . ad ae Items not provided for--Police Station addition ... Alterations City Hall ... ... tre Fo Central Heating Instal. Traffic Control Signals ... "ars Sundry Administrative Items ... William; Building Operations & Alterations Poiice Court ... . Traffic Signs & Main, of Lights i "ve Weigh Scales Operation including Repairs aes Board of Health ... iene Hospitalization Social Services Other than Relief & 'Hospitalization vie Discount on Prepaid Tax Inst@fments Casas ee 76.20 56.00 2,364.90 684.81 996.45 1,000.00 100.79 1,940.01 14.45 69.66 579.19 32.00 974.83 2,537.34 204.44 sve see e cee aes we $ 11,781.07 | Expenditures Under Budget Estimate--Net: ... ... ... ... $13,545.87 Reveniie Over Budget Estimate--Net: ... . wer 408 S00 aan ass ese ess as 18,885.37 | $ 32,431.24 Weekly Review Livestock Market Montreal buying strengthened the hog market and prices closed 15 | cents higher on dressed sales at | 181090 to $11. Live sales were up 10 cents at $8.25. Sows were quoted {at 85 to $5.50 dressed. Lambs gained 25 to 50 cents cwt closing at $1050 to $11 for good Toronto, Dec. 20 (CP) --Lambs | gained 50 cents cwt., hogs | were up.10 to 13 cents, calves were firm cattle prices held steady on at the livestock market week. The light cattle was heavy enough for market rements | Early down 25 to and trading here this run requi slow trading to di on cattle was_slow- 'ourage truck "deliv- market was cleared by es unchanged for sold at 10ice with plain Butcher steers mostly $6 and $8 steers up to $8.50 $850 to $10 $425 to $5.75 Canney $4 from 8750 to $10." Two cars of western lambs sold at $10.75 $11. Western sheep made a top of $6 cwt, Other sheep sold from $2.50 to $5.50. Wieeekly summary: ed erie The the close ith pri steers downward $7 and heifers were with a few | t Fed 1 But« Sheep and Hers Lambe Calves 1.754 ) WF Cattle . ud 2 2% 5.304 IR 462 247,941 1.039 3m om i 16.080 and Large numbers of German troops are passing through the Brenner pass to Trieste, according to re- ports from Yugoslavia These troops would obviously bania either by ship or by march- ing through neutral Yugoslavia. From Taranto, German troops | might attempt to run the British blockade in a desperate attempt to bring aid to Italian forces in Libya, at $1050 to choice £12. Common 1 to $6. Grass- vealers 50 to $5.75. ewes and wethers with other grades | and | be bound for Ail- | OTTAWA RULING MAY FORGE RISE IN OWN WAGED Tremury Board Held Bound to Increase Pay of 8,000 Civil Servants | Ottawa, Dec, 20.--In laying down 'a guiding principle which ties war | industry wages to the cost of living, the government has taken action | | which may force its own treasury | board to revise its decision and raise wages in the civil service. | After a survey of the new labor regulations, it was authoritatively stated that there was no doubt the | treasury board was morally bound to live up to the regulations which other employers in Canada were asked to observe. There are nearly 8,000 clerks and drawing $55.80 a month who would | be affected by the change. The | cost of living admittedly had gone up 6.2 per cent. Under the Rov- | ernment's principle they should be | entitled to an equivalent | The government pays $60 stenographers | council, Since the war started be- ween 16,000 and 18,000 new em- ployees have been taken into the civil service in various capacities. It is unofficially estimated that there are 8,000 drawing the $55.80 a month. Some of them are mar- ried men with families, Some of the married men were hired several vear ago, have remained on the temporary staff all the time and represent what civil servants bit- | terly refer to as the forgotten list. No overtime 1s allowed in the civil service. It used to be the custom, tp allow dinner money | when clerks and stencgraphers were | brought back for night work from i to 11 p.m. There are hundreds working every night, particularly in the munitions department, where [the windows of frame buildings are {ablaze with light every night |Sundays and holidays--until nearly (midnight. But some weeks ago the treasury board found that there was no autherity for dinner pay- ments, and since then the clerks have had to pay for their own din- ners when kept downtown and work the same long hours as well. There is no consistency, officials | say. The Foreign Exchange Cong trol Board and the Bank of CO are not under the civil service, 'ng night workers get free dinners. In the Government Printing Bue reau time and a half is allowed fos overtime work. In the Mint, juss straight time is paid, In the regue lar departments the pay is the samg regardless cf the hours worked. The difficuliggs are not confined |to Ottawa. There are hundreds of new employees in Toronto, Monte real, Windsor and other eentres off government and military activitm, Officials admit it has now 1cached the point where it is almest impose sible to hire stenographers for $64 a month in Montreal. In Toronte there are still stenographers availe able, but not for long, it is believed In Montreal, girls are being brough$ in frem surrounding communities, and a transportation allowance hag been made which has the same efe fect as raising salaries. Already the Civil Service Come mission has had to raise its rate im some outside military centres te obtain qualified male stenographe ers. increase. | a| [month to Grade 1 clerks and sten- | | ographers. | increases until a reached. They also come superannuation. But no and no superannuation are pro- vided for temporary employees, and all the war workers have heen en- gaged on a temporary basis. thermore, there is now a rule that no temporary employees will Ordinarily maximum increases the war. Two Deductions Made The government deducts cent from all temporary employees as a comp Ory saving measure and another per cent. for the de fense tax leaving a total of $55.80 a month, The Civil Service Commission recommended that increase be pro- | vided for the Grade 1 clerkgand | stenographers, but the treasury | board refused to yield. Now the ! battle will be joined again, with the Civil Service Commission supported by the%*government's own order-in- ing NAPOLEON AND UNCLE ELBY Fur- | be: taken on the permanent staff dur- | 5 per| they get is | under | FARE AND A QUARTER Christmas: Going Monday, Dec: 23 to Wednesday, Dec. 25 inclusive. Return Limit: Leaving destination not later than Midnight (E.S.T.) Thursday, Dec. 26. NewYear's: Going Monday, Dec: 30.to Wednesday, Jan. 1, inclusive. Prepaid FAMILY GET-TOGETHER TICKETS A most appreciated gift for son or daughter away from home. Ask for details of this convenient gift plan. Tickets and complete information from any Agent. Return Limit: not later than Midnight (E.S.T.) Thursday, January 2, FARE AND A THIRD Good going: Wednesday, Jan. 1, 1941 inclusive. Return Limit: Leaving destination 1941. Friday, Dec. 20 to Leaving destination not later than Midnight (E.S.T.) Tuesday, Jan. 7, 1941. CANADIAN | NATIONAL | (oF Y VN RP-N PACIFIC By Clifford McBride GOOD HEAVENS , WHAT A NIGHTMARE / | THOT MC DE HAD DRAWN SOME FOR \ MORE ANIMALS IN THIS STRIP ME TO FEED BY GOLLY, 'V'LL JUST HIDE TwIS BOX OF DOGr FOOD FOR TH' PUPS IN HERE WITH THE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. NAPOLEON Wiki. NEVER FIND IT. Giorr Haves -- Rentals--City Hall Building and 'Sundry Real Estate Sales: General Bayan Lots . Public Utilities & Hydro ... ... ... Liquor Control Board ... .., ... 95.15 Sundry Receipts Nerina sis sss Hae whe one one 332.80 A Provincial Grant to Health Department: ... ve ve. ve.» Be. ViD. TIORUNOINE .. .... sus cvs aie see ven stv ore oss 250.00 Re. Ex-Sanatorium Patients ... se. see 60e aaa soe see gee o 52.97 Subsidy ... ses see om mee GUY WEP mew ow ses ses 'ses see son 32 JUNE TOOK THE GIRL'S AND TED TOOK THE BOY'S AND CRAMMED THEM CHOCK FUL OF CANDIES AND TONS. 1,160.71 5,004.50 8,990.00 7, "SANT? WIRNED, UST FOLLOW ME. L THE STOCHINGS, I TRIM THE TRE INTO THE CHIMNEY TE THREE OF THEM SPER OLD SANTH WENT FIRST AND THEN Sune AND TED. IT SEEMED BUT A SECOND TICL THE JOB WAS THROUGH.-- AS THEY TURNED AROUND UP THE CHIMNEY THEY FLEW. rears of $313,298 by the close of the year are still quite substantial. The much improved labor conditions lo- cally, warrant a greater effort on the part of delinquents in the com ing year. Comparative figures for the years 1934-1940 will be found on schedule fifteen. Pp Bank Loans , The amount of $220,000 shown under the heading of #Current Lia- bilities" December 3}8t is estimated to be sufficient with the credit bal- November plus the month, to *% ses see sss ere "te 406 see wee ses wee / 45% ass aes see see see A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS By Geoff Hayes $ 21,034.88 EXPENDITURE Under Budget Estimate Municipal Elections ... cee ses ste soe see ses our i. General Office Balaries ... veo wes sos sos soe 00s pes sos Legal Disbursements ... . . oe Printing, Postage, Stationery, "Telephone, Ete. ave eas Bank & Other Interest "re 04s say Tax Sale EXPENSE 4s suv srs wer sssites ave sas sen Juvenile Court ... .. County Gaol, Court House & "Admin. "of Justice .. Crown Witness Fees and Coroners Inquests Police Force ... . Fire Department .. Life Saving . date . fees ase bes Street Lighting oA Board of Works including General Street 'Maintenance, Street Lighting, Garbage, Etc, vie aa Sundry Grants ... soe svsiaen ane sas ser srs sus: soning $ 17.34 121.23 28.61 60.00 650.00 300.00 232.14 1,050.00 29.98 1,334.40 346.00 76.83 7.00 of ordinary operating costs and de- pbentures matlirities. Principal and in the last amounts to it resort to borrowing ole twelve months of early part of July, as such that we re- all loans, and have "a steadily growing .. This happy situa~ 2 $2 necessary during the THEY JUMPED IN THE SLED, UPON THIS FIREPLACE A- SHORT | HOP, AND THEN ANOTHER ROOF TDP ae D0 Be CHIMNEY AGAIN. "DEAR SANTA," IT SAID, THERE HUNG A LONG NOTE. | |*LEAVE NUTT, GANDY AND DATES. YHUMPH," MURMURED Santa) | a TRIN, BALL AND GUN WOULDN'T THAT GET ror >a4T.4 | ano A, NEW PAIR OF SKATES." "SELFISH, * SAID SANTA, "AND THAT'S AWFUL BAD A YOUNGSTER LIKE THIS MAKES ME VERY SAD." 1,640.13 593.36 »