TAXATION AND PUBLIC FINANCE 



Any community should know whether its local government is 

 conducted efficiently and economically ; whether citizens are pay- 

 ing their share of taxes according to benefits received ; and what 

 per cent, of each dollar expended goes to the various public de- 

 partments. A simple accounting system is necessary and a bud- 

 get making with opportunities provided for public discussion. 

 Those citizens who are specially interested in an extension of 

 public service, as in increased activities of the Board of Health, 

 should have this information. The city has an opportunity at 

 present in the preparation of its new charter to provide for 

 greater publicity in its municipal finances. 



The present city government is described as a "mongrel" com- 

 mission form of government. Five councilmen are elected at 

 large. The Mayor and City Treasurer are also elected. Ordi- 

 nance-making and the executive power are both vested in the 

 City Council, each member of which has charge of one or more 

 of the city departments. Three coun cilmen may act over the 



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Statisvcs fof I9J2 



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