The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1916. BOROUGH FINANCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 5, 8 April 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1916. BOROUGH FINANCE.

The summary of receipts and expenditure of tlic Borough of Stratford, compiled from the Borough balance-sheet, and kindly placed at our disposal by Mr P. Skogltmd, Town Clerk, makes the financial position clear at a glance. A comparison of the estimated receipts with the actual amounts received shows that the estimates were carefully worked out, "Sundries" being the only item in which there is much difference from the estimates. This is accounted for by the transfer from the Loan Account to the District Fund Account, of certain sums paid on account of the new building! from the latter account. Tins expenditure also accounts for -part of the in-1

crease under the headings "General and "Sundries," in the comparison of expenditure. A glance at the comparative statement of expenditure shows over-expenditure as compared with the estimates in the following items: Salaries £'-'SG. Waterworks and Drainage .£2OO, Streets £2-58. Salaries, which up to the present year have been shown as outstanding in the balance-sheet, have, this year, been included, thus accounting for the increase under this head. The increase in expenditure under ''Waterworks

and Drainage" is due chiefly to the extension of the water supply, to the new system of refuse disposal. [;; extension in various directions for' the benefit of consumers, and to-the increased cost of material. Over-ex-penditure on streets is due chiefly to the tarring and sanding of the Broadway footpaths, more of this work heing done than was anticipated', and

to various other extraordinary expenditures which at the time or fram* ( ing the estimates could not be foreseen. There is a big saving shown on Lighting Account, the fact being due to the policy of the Council in haying the lights turned off at 1 a.m., and altogether on moonlight nights, the actual expenditure for current being £275, as against an estimate of £3Bl. The year closed with an overdraft of £ll2l as against £633 at the end of March, 1915, being an increase of £l9l. Against this must be set a decreased liability this year on ac-' count of salaries and wages of £l5O, and increased assets in the way of outstanding rates of £73, miscellan-1 eons accounts £75, and boulders and shingle on hand £4OO, a total of £698. The Council's financial position is, therefore, better than it was at the j beginning of the year. Since the fire which destroyed the old Municipal Buildings, the Council has had the use in the District Fund Account of £1750 insurance' money. With the completion of the new building, £IOOO will have to be transferred to Loan Account, and the balance will have to be utilised for furniture, etc. This will mean a large increase in the Council's liability to the Bank, and; for the ensuing year, the expenditure will have to be closely watched. The Council may be depended on to see that no unnecessary expenditure will be incurred. The Council has got through a hard year's work very creditably. It has, amongst other, things, initiated a new sanitary systhem and sanitation fees in place of the old cumbersome method of coiled- j tion. The inspection of the Borough | from a sanitary point of view has been j tackled, and is being proceeded with! on satisfactory lines. Last, but by nomoans least, the Council has so dealt with lighting matters that the question which has been vexing the minds of councillors and ratepayers for years past is now in a fair way to be satisfactorily settled, and if that is effected, the Council will have donej something really worth while.