Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1906-10-11
WILL TRANSFER
OF MONEY FOLLOW.

There has been some criticism of
City Councils recent action in pairing
down appropriations to the extent of
IS, 900 with the idea of making up the
shortage by going into the strong box
of the Water Department. and taking
the $4,000 from the surplus accrued
here.
The whole thing came out of re-
quest of the County Tax Board to the
city to cut the appropriations $1,000
50 that the tax rate might continue at
last years rate, $l.8
According to the assessed valuations
of the city as returned by the assessors,
S127, 900 could not be raised with ST. 80
tax rate. But those who are object
ing to the action of City Council in
cutting down the appropriation are
not inclined to think that the fault
lies with the City Council. A glance
at the tax duplicates as returned by
the assessors indicate that methods Of
fixing valuations have been very lax.
There has been some little effort put
forth in attempting to equalize the
valuations Of down town property,
that Ia, property in the business dis.
tricts. But there has been almost no
attempt made to equalize other valua-
tions throughout the city. 1t is an
obvious fact that the average residence
property valuation as fixed by the as.
SCISSORS. is not more than fifty per cent
of the real valuation, and some of the
discrepancies in the assessments are
most glaring. In fact there is little
change from the Inconsistencies of q
year ago.
1t is quite certain that the Tax
Board would have been able to have
SO adjusted the apparent inequalities
as to have easily provided by taxation,
the $8, 900 that .has been pared from
the 1927. 600 demanded by the ,city to
be secured through taxes.
But City Council has acceded to the
request of the tax board and made the
reduction in the amount of appropria,
tions asked for to the extent of s.. 600.
It is now further proposed to make up
this deficiency by transferring 81, 600
from the surplus accrued in the Water
Department..
/ $40, 200 has been recently set aside
from the water money into the sinking
fund, providing for the payment in
full OF the bonds against the water
plant. That was wise step, It
leaves $4,000 surplus still to the
credit of the water department., But
that will be littls enough II the CITY
takes the report OF it's expert, Dabney
Maury. seriously. That gentleman is
by no means optimistic concerning the
future OF the city water supply. He
urges series of experiments to sat.
isfy him that the source of the water
supply may be assured to be pure, and
II this is not shown satisfactorily, he
will urge that the entire water plant
be removed to some other source that
Will give pure water to the people.
Inc rebuilding and repairing of the
steel tank. as recommended by Mr..
Maury, will cost from $ls, 900 to s15,.
ooo That in itself will wipe out the
entire water fund surplus, and the
work will have but just begun.
oan City Council ..afford\to cripple
the water department. in providing for
an adequate supply of pure water to
the people? Why should it take this
chance. when fthe taxes, equally ad.
5usted. would. more than provide for
the Sl27, 900 budget asked for?
The County Board of Taxation was
created by the Legislature for the pur.
pose of looking after the interests of
city and people, for an equalization of
the tax burden, and in this matter
shere seems to be concensus of opin.
Ion that the City Council is far too
agreeable and obliging in providing
Tor the oity's expenses.
Well informed people, men who
know something of tax affairs and
property, insist that if all the taxable
property of Bridgeton was properly
ana equitably assessed, the tax rate
would not have to be cent In excess
OF ". 30 on the 300 to raise the $I27,.
ooo demanded by the to meet its
necessary expenses for the coming
year.
~
wother Gray's Sweet Powder for
Children.