Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-06-11
TAX RATE OF 1850 CENTS
Recommended by Mayor in Mes
sage to Aldermen.
Construction Of New Library Criticised
and Claim Made That 1t will Cost
Much More Than Amount Given
by MIR. Carnegie.

A special meeting of the board of alder
men was held Tuesday night for the pur-
pose of receiving a message from Mayor
j. L. Burke. In his message the mayor
recommended a tax of SLIGO on the dollar
and spoke at length about the construc-
ton of the new library building, claiming
that the city would have to pay many
thousand dollars in addition to the
amount given by Mr.. Carnegie to COM
plete the structure.
During the evening a resolution was in
troduced creating "A new commission to
complete the construction of the build
ing. This caused a long discussion, dur
ing which many points relative to the
library were brought out and the actions
of the present commission were criticised.
Alderman Taft replied to the criticisms,
The resolution was finally referred to-
City Attorney Brown to get his opinion
relative to legal matters pertaining to it.
The mayors message was as follows:
MAYOR BURKE'S MESSAGE
Gentlemen:-1n compliance with the
provisions of the city charter l would
respectfully submit for your considera-
ton n statement of the cty's finances as
submitted to me by the city treasurer on
the LIST day of January, 1903. Also an es-
innate of the current expenses for the
year beginning January 1, 1908, and end
ing January 1, 1904.
l also wish to call your attention to
another matter of Importance viz: the
building of our new library. There are
other matters of Importance which l
would like to call your attention to. but
will defer doing so until such time as l
can give them proper consideration.
Our bonded debt on the LIST day of jan
uary, 1903 was $4,000, the sinking fund
on the LIST day of January, 1903 was $751;
565.S, which leaves a net bonded debt Of
$685. 1868.
Owing to the fact that the listers have
not finished their work ] am unable to
give you the exact amount of our grand
list for the present year, but after care
full investiEa ton l feel safe in saying it
will be s13iOo0, showing an increase of
81 S96.S0 over the year 1902. After a care
full consideration of the expenses needed
for the different departments for the
| current year, and also to provide for a
deficiency of s37, o5I19 which l find no pro-
vision had been made for by my prede-
cessor, it would require tax levy Of $50
cents on the dollar on the grand list. In
the city report on the 1st day of January,
1909, the deficiency appears as s34,0571e
but in the same report I find as one of
| the available assets Of the city the How
ard Hose house valued at $1,000, which
sum l claim should he added to the s34,
o57l9 making s37 o57.1o as the actual de-
ficiency to be provided for by taxation
My reasons for transferring this sum
from the column of assets to the column
of liabilities are as follows:
The building is now and has been used
for school purposes for a number OF
years and should not he called an asse,
Of the city for taxation purposes any
more than any Of our public buildings.
| After careful consideration the esti-
mated expenses for the different depart
ments will be Observation-Disclosures 1854, OF @
Estimated receipts....... ...,..... 80, 5000