The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-30
Totals sas els. 900 so7ii9,os q 500 $50 d
Comptro Ter Grout, commenting on the
new budget said,

new budget, said
The tax rate this fall is about four points
other wear since consolidation in isas has
year. Upon tie bulge: ius, made Tor next
still; The reduction OF q 10000 in the total
OF The budget will take of about four points.
while the. new buildings and other new prop
erty subject to taxation for the first time.
will take of about four points more, so that
next wears tax rate, on the basis OF the old
would be ghout twelve points less than last
years. II the sinking Fund relief mea sure,
10 which reference has been made several
times and which will shortly be made public.
goes into effect. IT will produce further
reduction in the tax rate. on the same basis
OF assessment, OF about, Twenty-Five points.
so that entirely apart from the change In
the system OF assessments. We anticipate
reduction in taxation next year OF not less
than Sio.oonoo, which reduction, taking into
account the new property which each year
adds TO the assessment roll. would reduce
the tax BILLS by about one-eghth. The new
system OF assessment will at least produce
more equality In the distribution OF the tax.
whatever else II does or leaves undone.
As a whole the increases are only modestly
proportioned TO the absolute needs OF the city.
fairly equal TO the increased demands OF
population growing at the rate OF 100000 a
year. and so nearly proportioned to the in
crease of taxation revenue from the new
property which each year. municipal growth
adds to the roll that, If there had been no re-
duction in the state tax. the increased allow
Increased the tax rate
With the revision of Assessments now under
progress in force and IN" reform in the Sink
tended to go hand in hand. there will be a
situation ultimately very much 10 the adj
have not seen sneTcstcd b before in SJ print,
Hereafter every change in expenditure on
the part Of the CITY, which exceeds the in
crease in the Cty's revenues and the tax re-
turns from the new property which each
year adds to The roll, viii be a change which
must show In the tax rate. and which cannot
be covered M by changes in assessed values.
Every administration is sensitive about in
crca>ing tax rate. and the taxpayers of the
city will thus have something Of guarantee
against ali such increases, which are not
absolutely necessary.
In these measures for roduct on Of taxa
tho way of fixed rate OF taxation which
will not vary greatly from year TO year, a
result witch viii be due both to the making
the city 70 profit by the YEARLY increase In its
water. dock, franchise and other revenues
now buried in the sinking funds
While the economics of the administration
are doubtless less than many persons ex-
peCtcd. | believe II can not be doubted that
the city rov"rnmcnt NJ whole, considering
it's expenditure Of moneys derived from
bonds rs well ns from TAXATION. and the ele-
mouts of efficiency. industry and honesty of
expenditure, and making du" allowance for
the maydatorv legislation fixing salaries. as
well NJ for the tedious and often expensive
methods Of letting contracts and OF con-
ductinv public business which the law re-
Ouires, l. neither uncconomical nor eNtrava-
CANT but. on the contrary. il almost uniformly
producing dollars worth Tor every dollar
extended. What taxpayers want beyond
elementary honesty is progress, economy.
full value for their money and taxation which
lessons rnth"r than increases some slight
measure Of hes" requirements has. | hope.
been achieved
Mayor Low said that the reduction in the
budget was made possll, only by the
practical abolition Of the state tax.