Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-06-02
1910 CITY BUDGET
TO De- NEAR The
100000 MARK
Tax Rate Expected to Jump II
Points or MOre-Prun=
ing Necessary.

Some day next week, to be deter
minced by Chairman Emil Wohlfarth,
the finance committee of Common
Council, viii meet and start on the
hardest task which confronts hat body
the preparation of tho annual tax Or
dinance. AS usual, strenuous efforts will
be made to keep the total as close as
possible to that of the preceding year.
On this occasion, however, the most
optimistic members of the committee
realize that the first s~ection-the one
the committee a sole control over
will exceed the $4,0 0 900 mark, and
may equal the total of s4,2 4s, s15.S2, con-
tanned in the ordinance of 1909.
Last year the first section carried 49,
SGT, 512.S7, and the second, which is man
datory, covering interest and sinking
fund on various bond issues, $617,-
1896, making the total of S4,24S,-
.ef5.82. That these figures or any
thing approaching them. n be
maintained this year is made APP
parent by the budget of the principal
departments already submitted to the
finance committee. These include the
Board of Works, Police, Fire and Board
VI IASditnY NlilSh aSh loi q tOtul III
crease approximating $4,000 over last
year.
To this will be added $3.50. 900 to the
1909 school budget of $S4S, 5000 and
with the anticipated increase of $50, 900
in the second section of the ordinance,
the total increase would be $3.50, 900,
bringing the ordinance of 1910 up to the
SIS, 900, 900 mark.
u w. -k. -
made in some of the budgets submitted,
but hat will hardly be done, except
a very large increase in the contingent
fun is anticipated.
One possible way of augmenting the
latter will be found in the adoption Of
City Counsel Nugent's suggestion to
dispose of several tracts of and owned
by the city and not in use. This land
has an estimated value Of 5000, 600, and
if that amount may be used to keep
the total increase of the budget down
the net increase in the city rate for
the year might be kept down to twelve
points. making the city rate of $1.40 for
1910, as compared with lbs for 1909 on
each 800 of assessed valuation.
s~34o,ooo,OGo vaIuation.
To obtain even that rate the total
assessed valuation would have to ex-
coed that of last year by about 13,000,-
900, bringing the 1909 total of 1927 ,000,>
000 up to $340, 900, 900.
Last years valuations include the
S14, 000, 900 on the Prudential Insurance
Company's special reserve fund, which
the State Board of Taxation in an
opinion by Major Carl Lentz, theo
president of the State board, set aside
as an improper assessment.
II doing so Major Lentz reversed the
opinion of the County Tax Board.
which held the assessment of the local
board valid. The city law department
still maintains that view and expects
the courts where the case is now pend
ing will set aside the Lentz opinion
and uphold hat of the county and
local boards. The latter body a the
same opinion and will assess the re-
serve fund again this year.
There is little prospect, it is believed,
OF the financial committee being able
to make material reductions in the
budgets already submitted.
The police department. while show.
ing the heaviest increase, STA, 900, over
the, amount included in the ordinance
last year, asks for but a comparatively
small extraordinary Increase over the
amount actually expended last ear (
The fire department, while asking for
1872, 600 more than the tax ordinance
Of 1909 contained, is actually asking less
for ordinary maintenance h the
omount expended in 1909.
About the same thing applies to the
Board Of Health, which asks for $4,000
more for the several departments I'M
der its control. AS for the. Board of
Works. while 6 $4,000 more than the 1909
appropriation is asked for, the total is
$26, 600 less than the amount actually
expended last year.. Z
The committee viii evidently have
several meetings prior to the end of the
month, as the ordinance must be ready
for introduction in council on Friday,
July /. 1t will pass two readings in the
latter month, and be ready for final
passage on August 6.
M