Middletown transcript., 1897-05-08
Communicated
TAX PAYER PROBES AGAIN.

DEAR SIR: L nOLo WlLQ lut6E6St Luc
"Views of Trustee" in your issue of 1st
inst. Nothing was further from my mind
than the thought to in any way reflect up
on the personal ch aracter or integrity of
the members of Trustees. In fact, oil of
them are my personal friends, and have
the highest regard for them. But this is
matter which believe to be of public
nature. Hence, my former letter. Mr..
Nowland asks by whose courtesy Dies
the public enjoy the grounds and buildings
now used for a public SCHOOL," l answer
"There is no courtesy about it. but amatter
of stern necessity" can remember that
the last year the Academy was operated as
private school, under the care of Pro-
fessor Stevens. that he (Stevens) was not
able to make his bread ard butter. but his
wife and daughter were compelled to give
outside lessons, to exc out livelihood, and
free tuition was gladly given pupil for
the care of the one room devoted to school
purposes. Such being the case, and the
deed by which the grounds were transfer
red from the late VIM. Fl. Crawford to the
Trustees, requiring that the property
should be used for school purposes, the
Trustees were compelled to do as they did,
consolidate with Districts 60 and "a, or for
felt their charter. Mr.. Nowland asks
How much did the teaching apparatus
and tn e meager furniture cost?" have no
means of answering this question. because
the answer is part of their records, which
they regard as private and to which l have
no access But | do know approximate y
how much taxation the Trustees have es-
capped by reason of being part of our pub
lie school system. The town tax from
1877 to 1887 was 35 cts on The 500; for '88
and 'S9. 20 cts; for 80 and 81, 65 cts; for 92
| '93 and 94, ST. co. for '95 95 cts; for '96, 80
cts, an average for 20 years of 81 cts on
each 800 of value. Their town property
exclusive of the acres devoted to school
purposes, is worth easily $1,000, and their
town tax alone would have been $500. The
| School tax rate has been from IT to '84,
80 cts per $10o; '85 to 'SS, S100; for 49, 81 05;
| for go and '91 $lO0; for '92. $1.lO; for 93
/
over $l.00 on the rental value which
would make their savings on school
tax about $500 more, or a total Of about
| 81 900 for Town School Tax. d. not take
into consideration. the county tax, but
think that the expenditures for teaching
apparatus and meager furniture" have not
amounted to as much He also asks "at
| whose request was the new building buiIt2
and what did your school board promise?rl
have good authority for the following his
tory of the deal. The School Board, of
which three trustees were members. decided
that they wanted another room and it was
thought that one of the rooms In the living
part of the building could be used, but the
trustees proposed that if the Board would
pay 10 per cent. of the cost they would erecl
a separate building. The proposition was
accepted by the Board, but the action oi
the Trustees in releasing the Board from
last years rent has virtually reseinded the
agreement. even il the Board of years ago
had the right to bind, By mere majority
vote, the Board to be elected this summer
| One other point, the Trustees have arbi-
trarily taken the appointment Of a janitol
out of the hands of the School Board, and
have selected man for the place and given
him the use of the living part of the
school building. This means that the tax
payers will be compelled to have cheaper
principal or pay at least $50 per yea
more salary. This $150 and the $3.50 ren
for the idle building (which might have
been converted into dwelling) and $20(
: for repairs to the heater. means that $500
additional tax must be raised, and as a rate
of 81. 20 on the 800 does not produce 5000
the rate for '97 must be not less then $I.5I
on the 500. And this tax will fall grea
! deal harder on the poor man who OWES NJ
property and only pays capitation tax tha
it will on the rich man who does own prop
erty. TAXPAYER.