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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 6, 1962)
g SUNDAY. MAY 8. 1962 MLUtORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFOHD. City Budget Increases Inevitable in View Editor'! Not: The follow ing if the budget menage prepared by City Manager Robert Duff ai a preface ior the 1962-53 fiscal bud get for the city of Medford. Beceuie of lti length, cer tain portion! of the f lata ment have been omitted. Addressed to tie mayor, the city council and member! of the cititen'i budget com mittee, the itatemeni lay! in part: In accordance with chapter 16 of the Charter, I am for warding for yoA' considera tion the cily budget for fis cal 1962-63. This is a balanced budget. All scheduled operating costs are offset with anticipated revenues. It will not require an election to exceed the 8 per cent property tax limita tion or to establish a new tax base within the General Fund. I regret to report that the cost of operating city govern ment continues to rise, and tills fact is reflected in the proposed budget. Operating costs next year will increase 7 to 12 per cent (depending on annexation) compared to those of the present year. These increases, however, ap pear to be Inevitable in the face of an Increasing popula tion, a vastly expanded ser vice area and the continuing inflationary price rise. Population Increase Unfortunately, our city gov ernment has not always been able to keep pace with the rapidly changing conditions of recent years. For example, within the last decade the population of Medford has in creased by more than 50 per cent! During this same period, the area within the corporate limits increased by 300 per cent. During this same period, change represented by the an nexation of suburban areas. We must recognize that sub urban areas are exceedingly inefficient living areas and costly to serve. To this must $1 .00 Down $1.00 weak IT'S THE STEAMSNGEST! 1 COOK THEN tl El?3 rV. c A 1 A V V A ! rS3W $1188 i , Ffil V H'lnch Easy-Clean Fry Pan with Miracle DuPont Teflon' Cooking Surtacel No stick, no scrub! Cook with uni formly controlled automatic heat . . . rinse clean under the tan! uui aown on calories, cholesterol. Beautiful new "bullet" style. OTHER PRESTO SPECIALS- $24.952 to 9 Cup Auto. Stainless Steel Percolator Special $29.95 4 to 12 Cup. Aulo. Stainless Steel Percolator Special Open Friday Evenings Free Parking Tenth and Central be added the effects of infla tion. The cost of the things that city government buys, such as roads, sewers.Oparks and the services of people, has risen nearly twice as fast since World War II as the price of things in general. The cost of operating city0govcrn mcnt is geared directly to these I must orlng your attention to the very urgent need of finding new sources of ,reve nue ior the city. The annual task of balancing day-to-day operating expense with avail able revenue is becoming in creasingly difficult and is achieved largely by deferring expenditure items that are ordinarily necessary for effi cient operation. A continuation of such re strictions can only result in a deterioration of public service and the general effec tiveness of city government. The continued orderly and sound growth of our commu nity is dependent on obtain ing a realistic balance be tween public and private ex penditures. The growth and expansion of the private econ omic sector in our city within recent years represents a vi tality that remains to be matched by city government. Single Revenue Source The major single source of revenue the city has is the general property tax and It ac counts for 35 per cent of all receipts. The inherent dis advantages of this tax, along with the severe legal limita tions Imposed, are well known. Nevertheless, the bulk of revenue requirements for next year must come from the property tax. One conse quence of this will be an esti mated increase in the millage rate from 28.5 mills to ap proximately 33 mills. This millage Increase has meaning only after we consider that the real dollar amount of city property taxes has decreased 40 per cent between 1951 and 1061. Whether new revenue NEW, IMPROVED STEAM-DRY IRON Steams full 40 minutes with out refilling! 21 operating steam ports deliver more usable steam for easier iron ing. Largest sole plate (35 square inches). Plus new , wide-range steam controls, to saieguara most aeucaie of synthetics! MFRS. USTPRICt WITH OR , WITHOUT FATS .. . JUST RINSE ll IT CLEAN! VVrapped Mfri. lilt ptKt fO UMlTtD TIMt ON1 1 en conuoi msiii 5 1 9.88 $21.88 QUALITY AT LOWEST PRICESI Phone SP 2-5201 o sources should be initiated exclusively at the local level, whether they should be ob tained through subventions from state government, or whether they should consist of use, consumption or in come taxes, is a question that demands our continued and hurried study. 1962-63 Revenue In the event of annexation, it will not be possible to take advantage of the permitted 6 per cent increase in the Gen eral Fund tax levy. This is caused by the 12 mill limita tion Imposed on this fund by the city charter. This limit was established in 1912. It is j recommended that considera : tion be given to amending the I charter by election in order to remove tnis restriction. An increase in the sewer service charge was anticipat ed and approved in the cur rent budget. However, the new schedule of charges will not be ready for Council con sideration until July, 1962. It was found necessary to allo cate all costs of the Sanita tion Division to the Sewage Treatment Plant Maintenance Fund. The Sanitation Division has been financed entirely by the General Fund. It is expected (hat the Sewage Treatment Plant Fund can be supported entirely by the proceeds of the sewer service charge. Will Reduce Debt This budget will reduce the general debt of the city by $282,211. The outstanding debt at the end of fiscal year 1962-63 will be $2,929,055. ex eliding improvement bonds is sued for Bancroft projects. Of (his amount, $451,000 is attributable to general obli gation issues, $2,338,055 to water system issues and $140,000 to the Camp White sewer issue. The latter two is sues are retired with proceeds from property taxes. The gen eral obligation indebtedness represents three tenth of 1 per cent of the total true cash value of assessable property In the city. Compared to oth er cities, this is an unusually low ratio. The most critical problem 15 Area Students On Dean's List at (Oregon Technical Klamath Falls - Fifteen stu dents from the Medford area have been cited for winter term academic achievement at Oregon Technical Institute. On the honor roll with grade point averages above 3 5 are Patricia Logan, Jack Elder, Charles Goodman, Paul Wayne, Curtis Boardman, and Lloyd Wood. I Patricia Logan, with a ; straight 4 0 average, is a fresh man in accounting technology, iThe 1061 graduate of Phoenix I High school is the daughter of I Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. Diede I rich, box 4R0. Talent. She is i a member of the campus New man club. Charles Goodman, a 1 f)57 J graduate of Medford High school, is a sophomore in olec- tronics technology, and a I member of the Phi Kappa honorary society. He is the I son of Ted J. Goodman, route 1 4, box 308U, Medford. Paul Wayne, who made his home at Medford prior to al I tending Oregon Tech, is a ! sophomore in the metals di vision and president of the 'student chapter of the Ameri j can Welding Society. i Grants Pan Graduate Curtis Boardman, a fresh man in surveying technology, is a 1!)58 graduate of Grants j Pass High school. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Board- man. 810 Grant ave., Medford. J. Loyd Wood, a 1955 grad uale of Talent High school, is a sophomore in x-ray tech nology. He is the -on of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Wood, 203 South Second St., Talent. Jack Elder, a liltirt graduate of Ashland High school, is sophomore in electronics tech nology. He is a member of the campus chapter of the In stitute of Kadio Engineers, and the son of Mr. and Mi's. G G. Elder, 4R2 Iowa St., Ash land. ! Also named on the Dean's j List with grade point aver ages between 3 0 and 3 5 are David Elrod. drafting, tech- j nology, Medford: Donald T. I Bo gen off, auto mechanics I technology, Central Point; Lawrence Brown, drafting : technology, Medford: Phil C. i Reeves, structural design technology. Medford: Dean Weitman, drafting technology. Eagle Point; Gary Milne, structural design aechnoloi. Medford; o h n Humphrey, auto nieohanu-s technology, Medford. Merle Governor, aulo mivhamr.i technology, Trail, and Will,,, f. An drews, eleotiioiiUj technology, . While Cly. 0 that the cVy administration ' faces is concerned with nlnvpe calarip anH wapp. The need for salary revisions , Tne rcport o tne civj, has been apparent for more j Service Commission indicates than a year. The last general j that the wage rates for select wage ieyrease granted wasied positions are 15 per cent eiiecuve juiy i, iuou. Irf February, 1962, the Ore gon State Civil Service Com mission was requested to make a survey of position classifications and wage rates as contained in the city's compensation plan. The Views on Guide To At FTC Shoe Industry representa tives will present their views to the federal trade commis sion May 16, regarding the proposed rules, which would call for advertising disclos ures and labeling of non leather shoe components. According to Wilbur Gard ner, Medford shoe repairman, who is the founder of the movement for shoe labeling, considerable opposition to the proposed shoe labeling law has been noted. The FTC will meet with the industry who will express the views of the opposition. Satisfied With Guides In a letter written by Gard ner to the "Footwear News," he states that he is satisfied with the proposed labeling guides. Opposition was voiced by A. Weinman, president of the Five Star Shoe company in Long Island City, N.Y., in a reply letter in the same pub lication. Weinman calls the labeling guides as "monstrous, un workable, arbitrary and ca pricious," adding that they may "even be unconstitution al." He continues that the guides are "calculated to drive out of business the April 29, 1963 JUl I can say is keep up the Good work of crlnf ing to this valley good -nueie. Vte have waited a long time for a 6tation such as you have Thanks again and again Count us among your regular, grateful listeners ! Ihaplc Jollf s7 ?W 'J " "rJU S&CC 2&4-S DearSirs:- itatl0Jhank you so union for the good programs on your I have been most unhappy slnoe 1 have oeen in Ore Ron beoause I missed the good radio programs 1 had been used to and it seems wonderful to be able to turn on the radio and hear something beaideHDoes the Chew ing gum loss its flavor on the bed post every night." ..', .-"iff 1 - (ym y j . A. 'These cards were selected at Mndom and represent only a tiny portion of the ards and letters received by KSHA. results of this study are pre em-jsented n tne accompanying r rl to 20 per cent below competi- tive rates in the Medford area. Other positions, notably in the clerical area, are clo - ser to salary rates paid by competitive employers. In spite of these current year adjustments the city Labeling Be Given earing manufacturers of this coun try that are helping to keep the price of footwear to con sumers low." May Not Exist Weinman concedes that "shoes are being made in such a manner and of such materials that the need for shoe repairmen may not ex ist in the future. Does he want the industry to go back ward so that he will produce the kind of footwear that will require his services?" The shoe company presi dent continues that "the American consumer is well protected by an industry that gives the greatest value to the consumer of any item he buys, yet gives to its pro ducers one of the lowest re turns of any industry. If any item has been kept down in price, certainly shoes stand first in line." Gardner said that since he will be unable to attend the hearings in Washington, D.C., he asks persons, who support him in the shoe labeling cam paign, to write to him at his shop, Gardner's Shoe Serv ice, 612 East Main st. and he will forward the letters to the FTC to tell the custom ers side of the story. Vv. n.. e t -A ... l, . y iii In if ill?! it hWH rt.n Mi, n wage scale will continue to be 10 per cent below prevail ing wage rates as indicated in the Commission's report. It is to be noted that prevailing rates are only "average" rates. While the rates suggest ed in the state survey for lower level positions would 'seem to be consistent with : experience, rates for upper ; level departmental head posi - lions are deficient. I Additionally. 75 per cent !of all city employees are now I classified at the top of the position range in Steps "E" and "a". There is no possible way to reward deserving em ployees with merit or incen tive pay. Merit adjustments now found in (he compensation plan have become automatic and have taken the place of cost of living adjustments. Unfavorable Differential It is expected that a con tinuing favorable wage dif ferential can only result in labor problems leading to corrective legislation by the state legislature. This must be avoided. The detrimental ef fects of a low wage policy on career employees as well as on the standards of new em ployees are all loo evident As previously noted, this budget has been prepared to provide for the annexation of the West Side area. As far as practical, expenditure and revenue estimates related to this annexation have been so identified throughout the budget. The dollar cost of servicing this area during 1962-63 is estimated at $75,432. This dollar cost does not relect the full cost of the added work load in all departments nor does it recognize other costs that will materialize in 1963-64. Capital Improvement Included in this budget are our major capital im provement programs. These programs are concerned with arterial streets, storm sewers, park improvements and air port development. A detailed BBTH 3)er $"rs J 7Z. We Sr. -4.1 c i 7 ie had mi I I ' One of Merest ftJffd'eJ f?s' r?e, Thank You Rogue Valley Listeners From eeAnJUil -SHA-RADIO REDISCOVERED OREGON of More Population explanation of each project is contained under applicable sections of the budget. The combined expenditure for these projeas is estimated 9t $550,000. Improvement projects of the future on which planning must proceed this year can be identified as follows: 1. New city hall building ' and site. I 2. A public safety building for police and fire head- quarters. 3. Additional fire !u fa- stations. 4. Enlargement of the pub lic works shop area. 5. Airport runway exten sion, clear zone property pur chase and office building. 6. Sewage treatment plant I enlargement. 7. Expansion and develop ment of the city park system. 8. Construction of new streets, particularly in resi dential areas. 9. An improved fire alarm reporting system. Summary of Features This budget incorporates many new features most of which cannot be recited in this message. I will, however, attempt to summarize and identify for Council and Com mittee members the principal programs covered in the budget. 1. Provision has been made for employee salary ad justments in most occupa tional groupings. 2. Proposals are included for reducing the work week of firemen from a 72-hour week to a 60-hour work week. 3. The budget provides for servicing of the West Side area if it is annexed. 4. Provision has been made for creation and establish ment of a city planning department.- 5. A proposal is included for replacing 100 parking meters. 6. An amount has been in cluded for contractural serv ices with the Jackson county public health department for mosquito control. 7. The park maintenance 2.2 .J you on- TV cy J 7 " facmej C2r r.3'o iuftJ Jim I staff has been increased W provide for the maintenance of new city parks. I 8. Emphasis has been j placed on an expanded com-' munity-w i d e civil defense j program. 9. Provisions has been made I j for reconstruction of the air-1 port restaurant. 10. Recommended appro priations for the sewage treatment plant will enable an expansion of treatment ca pacity sufficient to meet the needs of the immediate future. Compilation of this budget has been a trying and frus trating experience. The re sources available to the city are inadequate to provide for , the many worthy and neces s a r y service programs. I , FREE And Gifts qLJSJT3 XT Our Candies Are Made Fresh Daily In Our Own Kitchen Owned and Operated By Mr. and Mrs. Henry Severson 132 West Main Phone SP 2-2667 .Dear Sirs: I. want to take thie opportunity to expreei Kf appreoiatioa of jeur fine atatlon. I really enjoy the type of auaie that you play, eepeolally early In the norninc. , Tou can oount me as one of your steady listeners, and your advertize can oount on my support whenever possible O r a a' is - .txfMa: "Roe yjczTJU. nre For Your Wonderful and Gratifying Acceptance! ! trust, however, that these re commendations will be of assistance to the Council and Budget Committee in obtain ing the best possible alloca tion of the city's resources. Robert A. Duff City Manager (X) VOTE for HENRY F. PADGHAM Democratic Candidate for STATE SENATOR Pol. Adv. by H. Padgham 1309 Court, Medford REMEMBER 1 MOTHER . . . Mother's Day, May 1 "for MOTHER See Our Full line of FANCY BOXES and Sevenon's boxes . . , ALL SIZES Packed To Your i Likingl ALSO Imported Tins HV-S V Packed to your liking GIFT WRAPPING Mailing Service everson s CANDY Very truly yours. In P -V ? IT I , c P 3:. "T t f .U -tfefej no 2&m
