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<br />( 2 ) <br /> <br />to 1978, the cost of Chapter 10 Agencies to the City of <br /> <br />Martinsville had increased ~d~ly from $9400 to $31,100, <br /> <br />230%, and the agencies were requesting $34,600 in 1979, <br /> <br />11% over the previous year, a huge 268% increase in four <br /> <br />years. <br /> <br />I was embarrassed. <br /> <br />I had been on Council since <br /> <br />September, 1974. <br /> <br />I had worked on four City Budgets, <br /> <br />had spent hundreds of hours pouring over the city financial <br /> <br />records, trying to find ways to save taxpayers money <br /> <br />by increasing efficiency in government and eliminating <br /> <br />waste. <br /> <br />I had worked with our auditors and city administra- <br /> <br />tion to change the city accounting system, to check that <br /> <br />revenues were forecasted accurately and to make sure that <br /> <br />all expenses were justified. <br /> <br />And, yet, I had only <br /> <br />spent a few moments each year glancing at a page of <br /> <br />expenses whose cost to the taxpayers of Martinsville had <br /> <br />increased by $89,000 in four years. <br /> <br />The message was clear, and I began to study the <br /> <br />agencies. <br /> <br />Four years ago, the Chapter 10 Agencies serving <br /> <br />Martinsville, patrick/Henry, and Franklin - - spent <br /> <br />slightly over $400,000 a year of local tax dollars, <br /> <br />united Fund Allotments, local contributions, Federal and <br /> <br />State funds. <br /> <br />Today their combined budgets total approximately <br /> <br />$1.1 million. <br />The Patrick Henry Mental Health Center had a $100,000 <br /> <br />budget four years ago. <br /> <br />$260,000. <br /> <br />Today the Budget is approximately <br />