The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-11-25
TOwN AGENTS REPoRr.
The Record of Years Administrations Why Five Mill Tax Was Laid-Ihe ToMn's Financial CnndItInns.


 Towns Financial Conditions.
 Town Agent BaldwIn's annual state ment of account to the taxpayers of New Haven from November 1, 1894, to October S1, 1895, is just out.
 In his predatory statement the town agent calls attention to the fact that according to the last report the balance of cash on hand was $10S,S15,9S, and says that this was undoubtedly the but that against that balance there were outstanding checks to the amount of S6,1520S, and bills due and unpaid amounting to $S3,S6529, leaving the actual balance with which to com mence the business of the year s19, ,29S56. The town agent, further explaining the conditions which he found upon assum- ing the duties of the office year ago, goes on to say:
 Had the true balance in the treasury been shown, in order to meet the esti- mated expenses as given in the last re- port, tax of at least four and one half mills instead of three mills would have been necessary.
 "In my opinion the practice of allow ing bills to remain unpaid at the end of fiscal year. thereby creating a debt against the town, which is not mentioned in the annual report, and which becomes a burden to be borne by the next administration is wrong, and should not be countenanced in any we'll regulated community.
 By the payment of $S9, ,365 29 which should have been paid prior to Novem- Der l, 1894, Gan itemized statement of which appears in another part of this reporD. the treasury of the town was so depleted that had not the receipts from various sources exceeded the esti- mated income for the year we would have been obliged to borrow money in order to meet the current expenses of the town.
 During the year we have paid the bills every month and kept within the estimates, and with the exception of a few disputed accounts with other towns, and a few bills that could not be had, there are to my knowledge) no bills outstanding against the town of New Haven
 "The condition of several departments was such at the commencement of our year that it was necessary to expend a large sum to put them in such shape that the business of the town might be conducted efficiently and economic ally
 "The itemized statements of the business of each department speak for themselves and call for no comment from me.
 "On account of the financiering dis closed by a careful examination of the last report, it wil be necessary, in order to pay the ordinary expenses of the town, to lay a tax of three and one half mills on the grand list, which I would recommend.
 "The national government has or dered a new bridge to be erected over the Quinnipiac river at Grand avenue, and the town is obliged to bear one half of the expense.
 ''The cost to the town is estimated at $5O,00O
 "In addition, the park commission has asked that the work of acquiring land and improving the same, in the Beaver Ponds district may be continued, and I consider it desirable thing to do.
 1.-The matter of the extension of East Grand avenue is of importance to the eastern section of the town.
 ''The making of maps of the Thr- teenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth wards for the use of assessors is neces- sary.
 Some steps have been taken toward the building of a reservoir near Spring. side home and the work should be con- tinued.
 'In order to meet the obligation to build the Grand avenue bridge, and make the special appropriations re- ferred to, it will be necessary to lay an additional tax of one and one-ha1f mills, which I recommend.
 'In conclusion allow me to call your attention to this fact, viz. Had we not been obliged to pay obligations of the former administration to the amount of $S9, ,517.37 a tax of only three and one- third mills would be necessary to pay both the ordinary and extraordinary expenses of the town for the ensuing year, including the $50000 bridge or- dered by the government. ROBERT E. BALDWIN, Town Agent
 The report then goes on to enumer- ate the bills contracted and that should | have been paid on or before October | 31, 1894 Under the head of assessors account" there is a total of $1,11898, | construction account s6S1.50, contingent account $l74.50, election account $S, ,066 47, general account $1 ,0S1.3 insane account l $297.44, interest account s744.44, outside | poor account $33 A, registrars account | $17243, road and bridge account $2, ,907.- | 26, salary account S1,235.28, special &C., count $67, Springside farm account $437.- | 75, Springside home account SIG, 0,972.7S, tax account $54,S14.72, town clerk &C., count $260, total $S3,365.29. | After giving an itemized statement of | the several accounts the report gives a recapitulation of the receipts and ex- | penditures of the year as follows: Total Receipts.--Balance from 1S93-4 l account, $10S ,S15.93; tax collector, $2O2,- | 168.74; county commissioners, $113. .921. .02; town agents $6.7O1.9S less $3 paid for postage, s6, 6,698.9S; town clerk, (dog tax) N1 % --