The Jersey City news., 1890-07-30
THE BUDGET.
An Increase of Nearly
100000 In the City's
Running Expenses.
SOME ODD FINANCIERING.
Big Hopes Banked on the State
Railway Taxa Water
Fee Fake.
THE RATE PROBABLY S2.77.|
But Special Legislation Will
Be Needed to Make
Ends Meet.
SOME ODD FINANCIERING.
THE RATE PROBABLY S2.77.

The Board of Finance met this morn
ing to approve the budget for the fiscal
year beginning December /. which was
Whole. Clerk German read the volumin-
Gus report, and the Board. after adopting
it, adjourned. Commissioner Bray was
not present Corporation Counsel Ed
wards was present with the Board at
their executive session.
The budget, as will be seen by refer.
ence to it In another column, is a some
what wonderful document. Although
decreases have been made in the appro-
priations for the Board of Aldermen, of
Street and Water Commission and of
Finance Commissioners. large increases
appear in the appropriations for the Police
Commissioners, Fire Commissioners,
Board of Education and Tax Commits
sioners, which more than over balance
the reduction. Nevertheless the amount
to be raised by taxation for city purposes
is $l43, 58o.04 less than it was last year.
A PRETTY JUGGLE.
The manner in which this result was
reached is exceedingly unique. A law
was passed in 1885 requiring the city to
devote one-ninth of the tax levy to the
sinking fund for the payment of bonds.
The city receives certain amount each
year from the State School Fund and also
share of the money paid into the State
Treasury for railroad taxes, which is de-
Quoted from the amount of the appropri-
ations.
The amount paid to the Sinking Fund
last year amounted to s199, ,9S3 As, and the
Board estimated that the amount received
from the State for railroad taxes offset
that sum exactly.
This year they calculate that they will
receive from the State for railroad taxes
sS25, 900, which in round numbers is $125,-
600 more than was received last year.
As 1t is extremely doubtful that there
will be any such large increase in the
amount received by the city for railroad
taxes this year 1t is an easy matter to see
upon how slim foundation rests the
hope that the reduced tax levy will cover
the city's needs.
MORE FUNNY FINANCE.
ftAOuACA ltCA1i WdACA AdS q pGCulldI lOOk
is that of the Engineering Bureau in the
Street and Water Commissioners appro-
priation. This is reduced 5000, and in
explanation of this large cut in such an
important department. it is said by the
Board that the Engineering Bureau col
lects large amount of fees which hereto
fore. with the appropriation. has more
than paid the expenses of the Bureau
Any unexpended balance has hitherto
been paid into the sinking fund. Now it
is proposed to let the fees pay the ex-
penses of the Bureau and let the Sinking
Fund Commission go without. By this
process of robbinG Peter to pay Paul an
apparent reduction of s., 600 is secured.
1t will be seen by glance at the appro-
priation for the Board of Education that
the all important item of repairs is left
out entirely. The reason given for this
is that the Board has already received
$4,000 for that purpose. But nothing is
said of the fact that the S15,0O is already
more than needed for repairs to the school
buildings, thus leaving no provision for
repairs which will be sure to be needed
during the coming year. The Tax Com
missioners have not yet decided upon the
tax rate, but they are flirting desperately
with $277 and if they can possible fix it
that will be the rate.