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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 31, 1961
Page
8
The City of Decatur reports another debt-free year with a $53,578 surplus for the 1960-61 year. Revenues totaled $1.414 million with expenditures of $1.306 million, and a 1961-62 budget forecast $1.378 million in revenue against $1.238 million in expenditures. Bulking revenue comes from licenses and gross receipts taxes, plus a new one-cent tax.
The proposed city budget lists gasoline tax revenue at 195000 and expenditures by department. Street 280000 Fire 190600 Sanitation 156000 Police 149000 Traffic Control 90000. Board appropriations include Park and Recreation 45000 Decatur General Hospital 20000 Library 18000 Morgan County Health 10000 and smaller line items for Personnel Civil Defense State Planning Board Pensions and Security and Coliseum Board.
Morgan and Limestone counties face numerous county offices up for election in 1962 with sheriffs, coroners, tax officials, boards of education, and commissioners. State offices include governor and eight Congress seats, while a court ruling will determine how Alabama reduces its U.S. House members.
Fires across a four county region killed six people in 1961, down from 1960. Morgan County saw three deaths in a single family, Limestone, Lawrence and Cullman counties each had one fatality, and Decatur reported 160 grass fires with 51 house fires among others.
Morgan County board reports 1961 as a strong year for road work with warm dry weather enabling extensive paving re work and grading. About 30 miles paved 50 miles re worked and 20 miles graded and drained across districts with multiple projects including McEntire Lane Slipup Road and Ryan Cross Road among others.
Health Department figures show Morgan County near balance between births and deaths in 1961 with 521 deaths and 1,410 births in the first 11 months. September saw the highest births at 180 while July had the most deaths with 59.
Tax collector Price Bryant says Morgan County’s 1961 tax take will top $1.555 million, a new record. Real estate, personal property, and motor vehicle taxes drive the total with poll taxes about $9,000, as growth and business property assessments push yearly increases.
The University of Alabama figures show January through October 1961 retail sales in Morgan County reaching 65.55 million dollars, up from 62.95 million in 1960, with October 1961 alone at 7.15 million versus 6.44 million a year earlier. The report notes store expansions, relocations, and promotions fueling growth in Decatur and Morgan County.
Taxpayers urged to complete as much of their 1961 federal return as possible with IRS help during the filing period ending April 15. Bill Turk notes available pamphlets and guides at the Municipal Building and a telephone assistance program with agents in the office each Monday. EL 3-8162.
Sixty years ago Decatur paved 88 blocks in 1960 with 44 under contract and 44 by ordinance at over 300000 dollars. The 1961 program added 75 more blocks from 1960 for a two year total of 163. City crews also paved 40 blocks with residents paying for materials, resurfaced streets with liquid seal and plant mix, and laid 15 alley blocks in the business district while maintaining water wagons and equipment.
Unofficial 1961 building permits in the city totaled over 6.5 million dollars, above 1960 but below 1958 peak levels. The year saw a strong start with monthly totals mostly higher than 1960, a fall lag, and December boosts including an 800,000 dollar apartment project and a 150,000 dollar railroad age of tracks completion for Southern Railroad. Home Builders say 175 new houses began in 1961, about the prior year. August led with 909,712 in permits at City Hall.
Labor market in the Decatur area rose to 18 325 non agricultural wage and salary jobs in October up 1 075 from a year earlier. Civilian labor force stood at 33 665 with 1 290 unemployed 3.8 percent versus 5.5 a year ago. Employers listed 3 014 openings 4 833 referrals 2 488 employed from referrals. 1961 results include 561 performance tests and 1 504 aptitude tests. New claims filed against Alabama employers totaled 6 286 with 1 128 against other states. Over 450 new jobs projected for the first half of 1962.
Decatur Public Library and Wheeler Basin Regional Library reported 163 650 books circulated in the 1960 61 fiscal year from Oct 1 1960 to Sept 30 1961. Wheeler Basin circulated 101 781 and Decatur 61 869 with Sterrs Library serving a Negro branch. The City Library circulated 59 914 and Sterrs 1 955. Regional total 85 100. Decatur holds 10 179 books with 791 added. Wheeler Basin 17 499 with 2 547 added. Card carriers and borrowers numbered 6 672 and 13 696 respectively.
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