The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-01-22
Which Would Mean 81 Cents
Reduction
SAYS FINANCE COMMITTEE
That Would Be, With Single Excel
tion, the Lowest Rate Since City
Government Was Or
ganized

A reduction of "a cents on the dollar,
making tax rate of $225-wfth one
exception the lowest in the history Of
the city-is possible by the 1908 esti-
mates Of the finance committee OF the
city council; and they go further and
state that another reduction to 81 Is
possible two years from now, provided,
Of couse, that nothing extraordinary
comes up meantime. In 1895, when the
city was first organized, the rate was
S2.l0, but since then the figures have
scared, going at high as $2.0S seven
years ago.
The estimates proposed by the COM
mittee are as a rule somewhat larger
than those Of the year just past and
they provide also for ten cent
increase in the sinking fund department.
So that it is reasonable to expect that
with conservative management the
amounts will cover the expenses. This
proposed addition TO the sinking fund
will make il possible to retire the $751;
600 sewer bonds (which mature in 1909,
and thus wipe out one OF the big items
of the municipal debt
What the committees plans are can
be seen in the following outline, as pre-
sented at the meeting Of the council last
night.
During the past year it has been the
aim OF the city council and finance COM
mittee to keep the expenditures as low
as possible. and still carry out all the
plans mapped out by our predecessors
at the beginning Of the year. At that
time the finance committee made pro-
vision for reducing the floating indebt-
edness Of the city by retiring outstand-
ing notes to the amount Of $40. 1886.
This amount we have been able to ex-
coed and have retired S30,743.65, and
only issued new notes to the amount
of 1900.
I'VE have also placed in the hauds, Of
the school commissioners 1900 over and
above the amount turned over to them
on account Of the 70-cent tax raised
for school purposes this year; the afore
said amount OF $4,000 beiAg TO help pay
for the enlarging of the Brook street
school building, for which no provisions
had been made In the estimates Of the
FIRST Of the year.
@We have also paid out during the
year S743.32 for land damage aeeruing
through the resuryey Of South Main
street, for which no which no provision
had been made in the estimate. We
have also had to meet one months extra
payroll for the street, water, fire and
police departments, caused by the chang
ing from monthly to weekly paydays
during the wear. and which has called
for about $1,000 more than was est
mated for these departments. All of
the above has been done on an income
from taxation for general purposes of
So 900 less than last year. :
VIII Not Impair Efficiency.
with these achievements in mind,
We believe it best at this time to map
out a program for the coming year that
win be worthy Of attainment, and which
we believe can be accomplished by the
next years government, If they follow
along the same conservative lines as
have been characteristic of this years
we would recommend o tax levy Of
s2.25 OH each dollar Of the grand list
Tor the coming year, the same meaning
/ reduction Of 81 cents on the dollar on
asst years rate. This II quite large
to make IN any one year, but
We believe that it can be done and not
n any way impair the efficiency of the
and as will be seen from
,ur schedule OF estimates, we have made
fery liberal provisions for all Of the
departments and also made provision for
laying whatever balance, If any, that
nay be required to meet the cost for
,nlarging Brook street school.
Special Sinking Fund Tax.
Tn our estimates on which the above
lamed tax rate of S2.25 was based, we
llso made provisions for raising a spe
iaI tax OF 25 cents for the sinking fund
"a increase of 10 cents over previous
ears. The amount thus raised added
o our sinking fund and similar levy
uring the succeeding year will place
ur sinking fund in a position whei
{ will almost be able TO take care OF
he whole issue of $4,000 sewer bo
1909. Arrangements will hay,
o be made temporarily for bridging
yer the period intervening between the
ate OF maturity of bonds and the col
setion OF taxes of 1909, to accomplish
his purpose; when this is done, the way
i'll have been paved for q $500 tax,
-hich We are sure would be greatly
preeiated BY all Of the citizens.
I'VE feel that the large tax rates
ihich we have had to bear since the
rgamzation OF the city have been very
urdensome in the past, but the future
romises betetr things. our bonded In
ebtedness will soon be reduced where
he sinking fund win take care Of it
5 it becomes due. with the exception
{ the s5T 500 refunding bonds maturing
pa, and even then We believe the fund
ill be able to take care Of about one
llf Of them.
TO carry out the above reeommenda
1ns Il will require the nost rigid
0nomy in the administration Of all
ie several departments. but the object
, be gained IS worth the striving for.
I'd We look forward with complete con-
ience to its attainment"
oo7 Expenditures and 1908 Estimates.
The comparative statement Of actual
Continued On ssoezz psss.