Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-02-24
THE SELECTMEN'S REPORT
A Tax OF 30 Cents RecOm-
mended.

Figures showing the Estimated TX
pen.e. and Resources Of the Town for
the Coming Year.
The annual town report was issued from
The Phoenix Job Printing office yesterday
The figures in the auditors report were
published last week, but there is much Of
interest in the annual statement by the
selectmen. They say:
In making our report for the year end.
ing Jan. 81, 1899, we are pleased TO state
that there is a balance in the hands Of the
treasurer larger than there has been before
for several years, which together with the
uncolected taxes will place the town in a
better condition than heretofore to meet
current bills wi hout borrowing money.
The income from town house for the
past year has more than paid the expenses
of its maintenance, and left balance OF
1896. Al for the use of the town.
For the past year your selectmen have
found 1t necessary to rebuild six bridges
four of them with iron. Two were with new
abutments, making entirely new bridges
The two that we rebuilt with wood, the
abutments were not heavy enough for
placing iron bridges upon them, and we
did not feel justified in rebuilding them
with heavier ones.
The selectmen review at some length the
work and the expenditures upon the new
Main street bridge. In reference TO high
ways, electric lights and finances they
state:
AS last year. again the expenses upon
our highways have exceeded the tax assess
ed in the sum of $493 30; and instead Of
assessing a special tax, as provided by
statutes of the state, your selectmen
thought it best TO report the deficiency to
the town and let the same be paid by appro-
priation made by the voters.
We have, upon petition from the resi-
dents of West Brattlebore, caused one more
arc light to be placed in that part of the
town, making eight lights on Western
Avenue and West Brattleboro. There are
also two incandescent lights in that part Of
the town paid for by the town.
The tax collector is again unable to settle
with the town in full for the taxes of 1895
There is balance due from him of about
$3.50, of which it is estimated that 1926
is good and can be collected. We find
that your collector has been diigent in his
endeavors to collect the taxes, but owing
to the dull times has been unable to collect
as close as heretofore.
The bonded indebtedness of the town
has increased by the issue of the bridge
bonds by the sum of $4,000. The town
has no floating indebtedness, all bills hav-
ing been paid when presented. A tax of
% cents on the dollar of the grand list
! would defray the expenses of the town for
the coming year and leave small balance
to its credit, as shown by the estimates.
The selectmen would therefore recon-
mend tax of 80 cents on the dollar of
the grand list, which will raise S14. 1874. So
some more than the estimated expenses
for the coming year, which would leave
oalance IN the treasury, so that the select
men would not have TO borrow money so
early in the year, and thereby save in in
terest en- temporary loans.
A tax of % cents on the dollar will
raise SIP, 7l2. 75-just about the estimated
expenses-but would not leave ANYTHING
for any additional expense that NAV arise
such as building new roads or altering old
ones, which is liable to have 70 be done.
The grand list is $40, 1880
The school directors recommend raising
tax of 80 cents on the dollar upon the
grand list of the town school district for
school purposes.
The following are the estimated OK.
penses and resources of the town for the
coming year: