The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-07-17
COUNTY BUDGET.
Freeholders Fix Appro-
priations For Next
Year.
DECREASE ALL ALONG THE LINE.
An Attempt Will Be Made to
Run the Courts Much
Cheaper.
DECREASE ALL ALONG THE LINE.

AT yesterdays meeting of the Freehold
ers the oSunty tax budget was fixed for
the fiscal year, beginning December /,
at SS4S. .O07.5S, which is a decrease of S24-
1925 from the appropriation for the cur
rent year. With the exception of those
for the bonded debt and interest falling
due during the year almost every item OF
the next budget has been cut down. The
increases in the interest items aggregate
ST. 5O7 IS. On the Branch Road sidewalk
bonds there is a decrease of $500, ieav-
ing net increase of $f2,507. .61. This added
to the total decrease OF the budget from
last years figures shows that the other
items of appropriation have been de-
creased just $66, ,9s9. SO.
Perhaps the most notable decrease is in
the item for court expenses. Ten years
ago SO, 600 was appropriated for this pur-
pose. This amount was gradually in
creased until it reached s125,00O in dSsI-'9S
Last year and the present year it was
Slloeoo and for the next year $4,000 is
Topped off that amount
For the expenses of maintaining the
Court House, public grounds and Jail, in
cluding the SheriT's fees fer board of
prisoners in the latter institution, the
S1I.sA1 3ti9W2G lI TJ,SjU i-1S >4lst- AOA Liz
preceding year. Five gears aso $4,000 was
appropriated for shar purpose, although
two years previous, in 1850, this item
was 81, ,50p n lSe9-'sd. It reached $4,000
point in lSsi-'aS when the figure was
$4,000.
The appropriation for asylum expenses
was $3.50 in 1890 81. 1t reached $4,000
in aSs7-'e2, and Tor asxt year S5a090-Sla,op
less han for the current year-is allowed.
To this amount VIII ae added the moneys
received frorn She state for the support of
lunatics. AT g i week for each inmate of
the county assianl this additional amount
Will aggregate in the neighborhood Of
$500.
The item for the maintenance of the
Almshousa is reduced $500 from the
figures for the current year. In 1Sso-'91
s55.O00 was appropriated Sor this institu-
tion. II reached the $4,000 mark IN 1897
'9S, and for the next year will be down to
the figures of ten years ago
The cutting off Of $4,000 from the peni-
tentfary appropriation is one of the larg-
,ess decreases There are but few more
prisoners in that institution today than
there were ten years ago, when the cost
of maintenance was $4,000. This item of
expenditure reached its highest point in
lS97-'9S, and in 1895 80, when it was SIS, 600.
s. 900 was taken off that amount in the
budget for the current year. and now it is
placed at s55000, $1,000 less than in 1896 81.
The item for printing, advertising, pub
fishing and stationery is one of the few
that shows decrease from the figures of
ten years ago. Then $4,000 was appro-
priated for these purposes. The amount
varied each year thereafter until high
water mark was reached with the appro-
priation of S230 600 in 1S96-'97 For the cur
rent year and for next year it is $4,000.
A conditional appropriation of $17,5o0 is
made for the maintenance of the coun-
ty's dependent children by the State Board
of Children's Guardians. This is s., 900 less
than the amount paid fixed by the bud
get for the current year. Whether any
portion of it will be used for the purpose
will depend on whether the new Board of
Freeholders, which assumes charge OF
county affairs on December l next, con-
cludes to abide by the law creating the
guardians, or if the law is tested and de-
clared constitutional before the expiration
of the fiscal year.
A reduction of $1,000 for the compensa-
tion of the director and members of the
Board is made possible by the McDermott
law going into effect and board of nine
members at 81, 500 each. succeeding one of
twenty-eight at $500 each.
s.. 900 is Topped off miscellaneous expenses
and $1,000 for the item for maintenance
OF the bridges south of Newark avenue
A decrease of $1,000 is also made in the
item for the maintenance of public high
ways. These are the county roads ex-
elusive of the Boulevard and its branches.
That the members of the present board
believe that their successors will dispense
with number of mechanics now on the
county payroll is evidenced by the fact
that the lite mot appropriation for the
payment of their salaries is but from
1900 to $1,000.
Only $4,000. the same amount as for
the current year is allowed the Boulevard
Commissioners for the repair and main
tenance of the roads under their care.