The Stratford Evening Pest WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1915. BOROUGH FINANCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 76, 1 April 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Pest WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1915. BOROUGH FINANCE.

With commendable promptitude, the Town Clerk, at Stratford, Mr Philip Skoglund, has already the whole of the figures for the year ended yesterday, March 31st, available for inspection. and the balance-sheet duly drawn. Mr Skoglund kindly permitted access to these figures this morning, and a brief summary is now placed before our readers as follows: BOROUGH BALANCE-SHEET. Estimates compared with actual Receipts and Expenditure.

Increased expenditure in General Fx-' ponses ,■Administration, and Sundries was caused by tlie fire. It was necesJ sary to replace stationery and fund-' ture and also provide temporary office accommodation. There was also a donation of L'oO made to the Patriotic Fund. .Money proposed to be expend- 1 ed on Swansea Road Bridge was not spent, this fact accounting for saving on streets expenditure. Increased expenditure under heading “horses and L

drays’* was caused chiefly through increased cost of feed, and additions to plant, lii the receipts column rents show a loss. The difference is account, ed for by £250, being amount of lost rent on Municipal Buildings, and £SB rent outstanding. The difference in license fees was caused by the failure to materialise of one anticipated auctioneers license. Taking into consideration the rates outstanding at 31-3-15, the estimated general rate would have been more than reached. An increase in refunds and sundries was caused by hire of roller and crusher to the County Council and refunds of cost of iron crossings. The Borough overdraft at 31st March, 1914, was £2lll, and on 31st March of this year £O3O. This reduction in overdraft is accounted for by receipt of insurance monies. Leaving out the insurance monies, the overdrafe would have been £2480 or £370 in excess of last year, caused mainly by loss of rent revenue, and extra expenditure owing to the lire. The following figures show bow the balance is arrived at:— Dr. Cr General Account ... 1847 Old Cemetery ... 164 Xew Cemetery ... 40 Deposits 22 Water Account ... 865 Interest Accounts ... 126 Dr. Balance 630 £1847 1847 The rates outstanding at the end of the year just closed total £7l as against £l7O at 31st March, 1914. The position, on the whole is a satisfactory one, and the actual expenditure well within the estimates. But for the disastrous fire and the necessary losses entailed, the actual receipts would have exceeded the estimates, indicating a careful compilation.

11ECEI PTS. Estimates. Actual General Rates ' 2792 2712 10 per cent, additional 20 32 Rents ... 810 498 Subsidy ... ... 188 188 License fees ... 000 562 Water Rates ... 078 GOO Extraordinary Water 130 153 Refunds and Sundries 210 505 Fire Insurance ... 1 1850 Town Hall 41 £5158 £7201 EXPENDITURE, Salaries ... 105 150 Administration ... 74 151 General Expenses ... 155 293 Lighting ... ... 19-1 415 Fire Prevention ... 84 80 Waterworks and Drain. age ... ... 210 374 Sundries ... ... 120 202 Reading Room and Lib. rary ... ... 70 87 Town Hall ... ... 75 — Hospital and Charitable Aid 185 185 Bank Interest and Charges ... ... 170 153 Streets, Bridges and Pound 3130 2807 Horses and Drays ... 220 279 £5458 £5572