Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1897-12-08
OCEAN CITY AFFAIRS.
High Taxes and Excessive Valu
alton Lead to an Investigation.

High Taxes and Excessive Valu-
alton Lead to an Investigation.
Our Ocean City neighbors are "under
the harrow" jnst at the present time,
over matters of taxation, valuation and
excessive expenditures. The following
extracts, from the correspondence of the
Philadelphia Inquirer, will enable our
readers to understand the points at
issue.
OCEAN CITY, N. j., Dec. 1.-The tax
payers of this popular seaside resort
are not at all pleased with the way
matters have been going since the
passage of the law enacted by the last
Legislature making Ocean City city Of
the fourth class. For years the growth
of this resort has been steady and health
full and it's affairs were conducted eco
nomicaIly, old residents say, but under
the new form of municipal government
extravaganza in the awarding of con-
tracts and the disbursing of public funds
is charged by property owners.
The total valuation of property in
Ocean City in 1896 was $625, 900. The
assessment for 1897 raised it to
81, ,521 900, an increase of 1886, 900.
The taxpayers claim that Ocean City
real estate is now assessed higher than
property at Cape May, which has many
more municipal improvements. The
levy to pay the county tax at the other
Cape May county resorts and towns,
they claim, was reduced 20 per cent,
while here the levy was raised enOrm-
ously. The increase, they hold, is ex-
orbitant and unjust.
The tax rate this year is $2.64 per
$lOO OF valuation. Last year sOcean
City paid the county about $4,000 and
this year she will pay about $4,000.
A number of prominent citizens and
taxpayers met on November /, and or
ganized ''The Ocean City Taxpayers
Protective Association" an organiza-
ton which has for it's object "the pro-
lection Of the residents and absent tax
PAYERS"
After holding several meetings it was
found necessary to employ competent
counsel to investigate and keep watch of
the actions of Council. Accordingly
ex-Judge Howard Carrow, of Camden,
was engaged and he will shortly enter
upon an investigation of the charges
which are being formulated. The off
GERS OF the association are: President,
Robert Fisher; Treasurer, j. w, Lee
Secretary, G. P. Moore. Many citizens
have allied themselves with the move
ment and believe it will be productive of
great and permanent good.
The taxpayers want to know what
has become of the proceeds Of an issue
of SAC, 900 worth OF bonds. This issue
was voted by the taxpayers with the
understanding that $4,000 would be
sufficient to improve the board walk.
Afterwards, demand was made for
$11, 900 additional for the boardwalk
to be taken out of the delinquent tax
fund. This is one instance Of alleged ex-
travagance which the taxpayers want
probed to the bottom. Favoritism in
the awarding of contracts is also
charged.
Assessor E. B. English, Of the Second
ward, says he has acted to the best of
his ability in making assessments. He
says some of the lots down the beach
are assessed at only 81 each. He esti-
mates that the appropriations have
been eaten up by electric lights, $1,000;
schools, $7400 streets, $500; out Of
which street sprinkler was purchased.
A large proportion Of the owners of
property in Ocean City are residents Of
Philadelphia. Circulars have been sent
to them urging them to cooperate in
the proposed investigation of municipal
affairs. The Taxpayers Protection
Association is holding weekly meetings
and it's membership is rapidly growing.