The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-04-24
PAY MORE TAXES
That's What Fagan's Reck-
less Bid for Popularity
Means to Tax
payers.
TINKERING The BUDGET
Mayors Cabinet Vainly En-
deavor to Avoid In
creasing Ratables.

formally yesterday afternoon at the com
ference in the Board of Finance office
and it was a knotty question. Several
schemes were proposed to meet the con-
dition of affairs SO that the tax rate
would not have to be increased, but none
of them were considered feasible.
The increases in the several departments
will amount to at least $4,000. To provide
for this without increasing the rate the
ratab.es must be increased 5000, 600.
Then there are the new schemes of Mayor
Pagan for which he had bills passed at
! the last session of the Legislature. The
very lowest estimate for the cost of these
is s134, ,O0c. This will make necessary an
other increase in the ratabies of about
81, COX, eco if the tax rate is not to be in
creased. Every public official who has
had any experience with public finances
knows that an increase of SIC, 600 in
the ratables is impossible. Figured as
ratab,es have always been figured, the
most that these gentlemen hope for is an
increase of $2,0C0,o00 this year. That will
make it an absolutely necessity to in
crease the tax rate or to jack up the
ratables all over the city.
The concensus of opinion yesterday was
creased 1t was even openly said that the
rate would have to go up to 8 per cent
1t is now ESQ per cent. That means that
where property owner now pays s2S on
the 81, 600 he will hereafter pay $50. That
| will make possible the consumation of
Mayor Fagan's pet schemes.
But Mayor Pagan sees an easy way to
avoid an increase in the tax rate. He
proposes to increase the ratables by jack
ing up the assessments throughout the
entire city. He proposes to add 10 per
cent to the assessed valuation of all
property Thus will nearly nine and one
half millions be added to the ratables
and the tax rate kept down to the pres
ent figure But the property owner will
pay more taxes no matter which of these
schemes are adopted.
There is some fear, however, that the
Mayors plan cannot be put in force now
for lack of time The budget must be
made up In July. There are only three
tax commissioners and the task of going
all over the city in three months is a
mammoth one Mayor Fagan says that if
this systematic and just way Of reassess-
ing the property cannot be carried out. to
add the 10 per cent. without the bother of
personally reassessing property.
The tax rate can be raised to 8 per
cent, without any trouble-except the pro-
test of property owners. Should it go
above per cent. it could not be collected
because then the Martin act would be-
come void.
An eminent citizen who was studying
figures when Mayor Fagan was casting
his first vote, talked on the budget in par
ticular and Mayor Fagan and his schemes
in general this morning. He said;
There is no way to avoid increasing
the tax rate that / can see 1t win go TO
8 per cent. unless Mayor Fagan's scheme
to jack up theratables can be put into
effect but there is not time to do that in
my opinion We will be fortunate If W..
don't have trouble with the rate at 8 per
cent.
mayor Pagan knew nothing about pub-
lie matters before his election. and nov
the other officials must educate him. Il.
is hard job. It was shown very eieaY-
ly to him before he had those laws passed
that the city would get into trouble over
them. However, the laws were passed and
now the people are clamboring for the inl-
provements provided for, and what Is the
city to do? We must give them, of course.
But these park Improvements and baniS
| and dispensaries and bath cannot be pro
vided for for many months vet. It Is
very unlikely that anyone will cool hiEi-
self in that Pagan bath this summer and
the bands that play in the parks Will
nat be paid by the city this sumemr.
Take this Excise Commission as a
sample of Mayor Fagan's schemes. It
will cost 5000 a year at least TO run
that commission. It does the work that
the Board of Aldermen did for nothing.
Tho excise inspectors are to do the same
work that the police have always done
and always will do Talk about John
Boyd doing work that police do? would
IKE to know how the Mayor accounts for
this inconsistency.
Mayer Pagan when seen this morning
was asked
What is the situation as regards the
tax budget?"
Very bright Everything viii be settled
all right. We are starting early so as
not to be rushed in the last few days.
There are some who think that the tax
rate will be Increased
Some people get frightened very
easily
How will an increase in the tax rate
be avoided?'
1--WE are now thinking over that very
carefully and everything viii be well ar
ranged"
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