Geneva’s First City Budget
(From December 1997 Historical Society Newsletter)
The first City budget from the Geneva Advertiser, January 25, 1898:
Common Council Meeting
The most important business before the council last Tuesday night was the adoption of what is called “the budget,” that is the list of items that will go to make up the city expenses for the year 1898. The total foots up $65,635 (roughly $2,316,000 in 2023). The largest in any one of the village government was $57,405.12 (roughly $2,026,000 in 2023. That was in 1896. The largest previous to that was in 1894, $50,643.38(roughly $ 1,751,00 in 2023 . But it must not be understood that these figures were the amount of the taxes in those years. They were much less. The estimated receipts from all sources this year are $29,100 and taken from the amount that in the budget leaves for us to pay $38,435. This will make a rate for city purposes of nearly $7.14 on the $1,000 of assessed valuation, against $7.40 last year, and $7.60 the year before. We are told that the motion prevailed to levy $39,500 which will make the tax rate nearly $7.34 on the $1,000 or six cents on the thousand less than last year. With these brief remarks we pass on to the figures:
Salaries fixed by Charter – $ 4,600
Policemen – $ 4,250
Care of Cemeteries – $ 400
Care of Parks – $ 125
Care of Town Clerk – $ 50
City Attorney – $ 300
Count Clerk & Stenographer – $ 400
Board of Health – $ 1,700
Fire Department Salaries Chief & Assistants – $ 300
Steamer Company – $ 300
Engineer and Stoker – $ 150
Fire alarm repairs and maintenance – $ 900
Repairs – $ 750
Hydrant Company – $ 500
Nester Company – $ 500
Ogoyago Company – $ 500
Hook and Ladder Company -$ 300
Holtz Protective Company – $ 300
Black Diamond Company – $ 300
Printing – $ 500
Stationery – $ 300
Steam Roller – $ 1,100
Engineer and coal for steam roller – $ 400
Sinking fund sewer and water bonds – $ 5,800
Interest on sewer and water bonds – $ 9,520
Public lighting – $ 6,000
Water fund – $ 6,000
Water and street fund for Construction – $ 4,000
Maintenance for reservoir – $ 2,000
Street fund – $ 6,000
Coal for pumping station – $ 1,800
Care of village teams – $ 500
Decoration Day – $ 100
Sundries, taxes, etc. pumping station – $ 350
Supt. Public Works – $ 1,200
Pay two teamsters – $ 960
Inspector Water Works – $ 480
Inspector of sewers – $ 480
Salaries at pump station – $ 1,020
Rent water office – $ 200
Total – $65,635
Estimated income from all sources
Water rates – $17,000
License moneys – $ 8,000
Town Clerk’s fees – $ 400
Fines – $ 1,200
Court Fees, etc. – 2,500
Total – $29,100 (roughly $1,027,000 in 2023)
Necessary to raise by tax levy $38,435 (roughly $1,356,00 in 2023)
Geneva’s 1998 Budget
General Fund $ 9,846,901
Sewer Fund $ 2,229,695
Water Fund $ 2,395,438
Total $14,472,034
General Fund $18,959,147
Sewer Fund $ 4,931,376
Water Fund $ 3,523,354
Total $27,413,877