EXPENSES AND REVENUES OF THE BOARD. The Board derives revenues from the registration of births, marriages and deaths; marriage licenses; record copies; permits for the emptying of vaults; excavation, building, body and disinterment permits; meat inspection fees, laundry inspection fees, and recorders' fines for violations of health and sanitary ordinances. These revenues in 1907 amounted to about $50,000. The Board's expenses are in excess of its revenues, and the City Council is asked to provide the differ ence. For the past two years the city has contributed to the maintenance of the Sanitary Department of the Board the sum of $18,000. The Food Inspection Service and the Department of Vital Statistics are self-supporting. In addition to this, a special fund of $45,000 was provided by the city for the operation and enforcement of the anti-mosquito ordinance; a fund of $10,000 for the enforcement of the dairy ordinance, and a fund of $5,000 for the first care of communicable diseases. The latter fund proved insufficient; as the result, however, of the legal obstacles thrown in the way of a full operation of the dairy ordinance, a heavy balance was left in the dairy fund, more than sufficient to offset this deficit. The reports of the treasurer, to the Board and to the city, are appended. The treasurer is a bonded officer and his books are audited twice a year. He reports monthly to the Board and annually to the city comptroller. Copy of his monthly reports to the Board are sent to the City Council. REPORT OF TREASURER FOR THE YEAR 1907. Expenditures during the year: Out of moneys received from city......$73,647.25 Out of moneys from other sources. Balance January 1, 1908: 43,182.04 $116,829.29 Out of moneys received from city.... $4,352.75 Out of moneys from other sources. 11,054.53 $15.407.28 Total receipts....$78,000.00 $73,647.25 $3,951.80 $8,304.55 (A) Board's "City" Resources for 1908. Balance out of contributions by city in 1907 . . . . $4,352.75 Appropriations to Board in city's budget for 1908........ 63,000.00 Total $67,352.75 Of these $67,352.75, $18,000.00 are intended as a contribution to the general expenses of the Board in the Sanitary Department and are to be merged in the General Fund, and $5,000 are for the first care of communicable diseases. Your treasurer asks to be informed as to the exact disposition to be made of the remaining $44,352.75, composed of last year's balance of $4.352.75, out of city contributions, and the $40,000.00 appropriated by the city for the enforcement, in 1908, of Ord. 3277, N. C. S. (the Mosquito Ordinance) and Ord. 16,204, C. S. (the Dairy Ordinance). I suggest that $10,000.00 be set aside for the operation of the Dairy Ordinance and that the balance ($34,352.75), be for the operation of the Anti-Mosquito Ordinance. (B) Board's Probable Revenues for 1908, Other Than City Contributions. The balance in the General Fund of the Board on January 1st, 1908, ($11,054.53), represents a saving of $7,775.11 in 1907, the balance on January 1st, 1907, being $3,279.62. This saving was possible mainly because of the great increase in the normal revenues of the Board during the past year. It is proper and timely to tell the Board that the normal revenues this year will probably be less than in 1907. It is not likely, for instance that the recorder's returns, which in 1907 amounted to $5,986.50, will be as heavy in 1908, for two reasons: First. We have a right to believe that last year's campaign has educated a large number of people to the importance and desirability of early and ready compliance with sanitary ordinances generally, more especially the Anti-Mosquito Ordinance. Second. Past experience seems to point to the imposition of lighter fines during a prolonged city political campaign. Until a few months have elapsed and the Board is in a position to more accurately gauge the financial prospect for the current year, I recommend that no great inroad be made on the balance left over in the General Fund. If the whole balance showing in the General Fund, representing the savings of two years (1906 and 1907), is utilized during the current year (1908), the Board will probably be unable to keep up with the new and higher budget of expenses in 1909. Respectfully submitted, (Signed) SIDNEY L. THÉARD, M. D., Treasurer. The present Board has been most active and much in the limelight in consequence. It is gratifying to know that its efforts to safeguard the public health have been generally commended and appreciated. But praise or stricture, applause or criticism, the Board will endeavor to live up to the high standard of work set at its inaugural meeting, believing that along the lines indicated rests the greatest good to the greatest number. For the Board of Health of the City of New Orleans: W. T. O'REILLY, M. D., Chairman. SIDNEY L. THÉARD, M. D., |