The Newtown bee., 1903-03-06
EDITORIAL INK DROPS,
FACE THE FACTS.

On Saturday of this week at ? D. m., March ? the adjourned annual town
 meeting for the purpose of fixing the tax rate will be held and it is hoped
 there will be a general turnout of the
 taxpayers. Selectman Morris informs us that at the lowest possible estimate $27, 1000 will be required to meet the
 towns expenses. This last year a 12-
 mill tax was laid, while our expenses have exceeded 15 mills. The folly of this kind of action is now admitted on
 all sides. Five years ago 12-mill tax
 brought in s2O,o0o or whereabouts.
 With or grand list reduced to
 S1, 344, TAO, ia 12-mill tax yields some thing more than $l6,0Oo. A deprecia-
 tion of 40 per cent in the value of the real estate in the Second distric caused by the removal of the New York BLlting & Packing Co. largely accounts for the shrinkage. Then, too, the increased expenses of the town are easily accounted for. The first installment of 5000 for the Fab ric Fire Hose Co.,, which the Second district called for, and was cheerfully voted by the taxpayers, has been paid. Then the high school expenses of $500 or whereabouts are to be met, | and S3OOO for good roads voted more than l2 months ago. In view of these facts it looks as if an 18-mill tax would be required for the ensuing year, and if so, we hope it will be voted. The foolish, short-sighted policy of carry ing over from one year to another the shortage and borrowing money to meet the deficiency should not longer be tolerated. Let us face the facts as
 we. .tind.them and Inappropriate enough to meet our expenses. Selectman Morris has made strenuous effort to keep the expenses down and has materially re- duced the pauper bill and other items. He says, and we believe him, that he ilas done his level best to keep the expenses down. No blame can be attached to MT Morris, who has done remarkably we'll under most trying conditions. The closing of the rubber factories, the consequent depreciation in value of real estate, the voting of large sums by the taxpayers to the objects above noted, are the causes of the present situation. And it seems to have been the towns misfOr- l tune for some years to have followed procrastinating policy by borrowing money to pay deficits in current ex- penses; the laying of a 10 or 12-mill tax rate when probably 14-mill tax was needed to pay our bills. In fact | Newtown has acted the part of man who boasted porterhouse steak appe- tite with only a codish income. This | is the situation in a nutshell The l time is near at hand when a reorgan- zation of our school system in the in- terests of economy, must be accom- plished. The High school has come to stay: this is the general verdict, but the district schools to some extent t need to be consolidated in the interest of the best results. When the total amount of our grand list is considered Newtown's debt of s43,0 900 or there abouts is not terrifying matter and ought not to be the bugbear to cry down worthy public improvements. Personally, with every other taxpayer, we favor economy in municipal affairs, but we do not believe in blocking every worthy public improvement sim ply because of the debt. We are not in favor of increasing our debt. Let us lay tax large enough to cover our estimated expenses, and then Itry to keep within the limit and pay a small sum yearly on the principal. We have confidence in the good judgment of our citizens to believe that wise and thoughtful action on the question will be taken at the meeting on Saturday.