The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-20
The Proposed Reduction OF City Tax
alton.

A alton. I.
We presume that the revised estimates of all
the municipal departments. which were re-
quired to be made out by the 18th inst, are
now in the hands of the Board of Estimate
and Apportionment. 1t is the duty of that
Board to meet at as early day as possible to
consider these revised estimates and to decide
what can be done to decrease the heavy taxa
ton of the present year. As their decision
will be final, it is important that the whole
subject should be carefully considered and it
is but right that the taxpayers should be
afforded the opportunity TO know exactly what
action is contemplated by the Board before
the matter is closed. When the estimate is
first made the law provides, after its adoption.
for its submission to the Board of Aldermen
and for Its reconsideration by the Board Of
Estimate and Apportionment, so as to insure
for it full publicity, discussion and mature
elaboration The law passed by the last
Legislature authorizing its reopening makes
it. in fact, a new estimate; but only
one authority, the Board Of Estimate
and Apportionment, has now power to act
upon it. Under these circumstances we sug-
gest to that Board, and especially to Alder
man Vance and President Wheeler that it
will be eminently just and proper to print
and publish in the City Record, all the revised
departmental estimates and the budget pro-
posed to be finally made for the year, SO that
they may be in the hands Of the people before
the Board finally acts upon them.
The rate Of taxation is not likely to be so
high, under any circumstances, as it has been
hitherto represented, since in calculating the
rate for the year the assessments in the newly
annexed territory have not been taken into
account, and these will, Of course, decrease it.
Nevertheless the tax will be heavy enough, and
the greatest economy should be practised in
all the departments. No necessary work of
public improvement should be stopped or
embarrassed for the want Of an appropriation,
but all work of q fancy or experimental
character, ell work that is not absolutely
necessary, should be discontinued or post
poned until more prosperous days. In this
direction. as we have said very large reduc-
tons may be made without damage to the
public interests in the Park Dependencies
pccially in the fancy architectural and engi-
neering departments. Let us appropriate all
that may be needed to keep Central Park in
its present excellent condition, but let US re-
fuse to squander money on unnecessary tun-
nels, fancy bridges, new walks, mythical mu-
seums and the like, until the streets Of He city
are decently paved and other necessary public
improvements completed. The estimates of
the Finance Department, now extravagantly
high, should be materially reduced in view Of
the saving promised in the consolida-
ton Of the accounts Of the city
and county governments. Care should
be taken that no item should be added to the
taxes which is not included in the present
final estimate. 1t is only through decreased
expenditures in the departments that the tax
payers will save money. The mere driving
over until next year Of the Fourth avenue inn
provement appropriation, or Of any other
amount that must be paid at last is not
money saved; it is simply postponement of
the day of payment We commend these
suggestions to the consideration Of the Board
Of Estimate and Apportionment, and we trust
that in this important matter the action Of
the Board will not be so merely mechanical as
it has generally been.