Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The Oregon state employee. (Salem, Oregon.) 1944-195? | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1948)
40 MAKING EVERY DOLLAR COUNT By Thomas H. Reed Editors note: Following is a partialre- prini of an article which appeared in the January, 1948, issue o f National Municipal Review. The material was originally presented as a speech by Dr. Reed, municipal consultant^ before the National Municipal League in Nash ville, Tenn.,' November 13, 1947. A l though Dr. Reed was speaking of city governments, his ideas are equally ap plicable to state governments. There is no question hut that Ameri can cities are going, through a period of great financial strain. Their cost of living, like that of the individual, has shot up with frightening velocity. This is due in part to publicdem and for more and better municipal services and in part to the general fall in the pur chasing power of the dollar which is characteristic . -of this as of previous postwar inflations. There are two great sources of mu- bnicipal waste. The firsts of these leaks cari, be controlled by long-term plan ning of improvements so that money is n o t frittered away on unrelated proj ects or on those offering only minor advantage to the community; by hold ing u p a s far asV possible public Works in times of high prosperity and high cost, and building up reserves in cash H .¿credit with which they may be undertaken in times ofvdepressionand low cost; by business-like methods of contract letting and contract super vision. 1 The second great: ^spufcd of waste ,is harder to manage, partly because it is* not. a matter of* a few ,big leeks but pf many little trickles. In their aggre gate, however, these little- trickles may become a mighty stream. Something Simon's Seashore Restaurant Eat Where Food Tastes Good M. L. Simon Cannon Beach, Ore. like 80 per cent of all city expenditures, omitting debt service,. , is for" 'salaries and wages. T h is is not a suggestion that the Wage's” o f municipal employees should be ,cut. On the contrary,' it is essential that employees, be paid not merely 1 living wage but one commensurate with the wages paid for similar work-in pri vate employment. It is neither honor able nor s a fe fó r a City , to under pay its help. This is a plea, 'however, for getting a full day’s work for a full day’s pay and one that Is Ml efficient WIMPY'S Good Food - Groceries - Gas Fishing Tackle Come As You Are Valley Junction Oregon 1 0 9 CAFE Real Food - Quick Service Highway 99 Junction City, Orégon Tourist Tavern an d HOTEL C. M. and O. V. Brown, Prop. Hebo, Oregon
