The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-26
Iarly.
Want Data.


 The city auditor estimates the ex- penditures in ehe first district annually only at four tlmes the income derived. ] believe hls estimate is too conserva- tive. The average rate in the first district only for the past 8 years has l been about i've and hVe-tenths mills. Compare the benefits received by the residents of the first district only with | those of the residents of such towns as Stratford, with a rate of 13.5 mills; | Fairfield, IA mills, and Thumb ail. 13!5.
 The opinion of City Attorney Pull man follows:
 Lear sir:
 In reply to the request of your board | in its resolution of January 5th for an 1 opinion as to what items in the budget l can solely be charged against the sec l ond district and what items can be 1 charged against the first district, I re- spectfully beg leave to set forth my | opinion as follows:
 The consolidation act of the city and town in 1889 provided as follows: | All the inhabitants and property within the limits of the first district l shall be liable to taxation, Nto defray ! the burdens and expenses imposed up 1 on said city by it's act, to the same ex- | tent as they would be liable if said burdens, expenses, duties and powers had not been transferred from sait town to said city, and in addition | thereto, for the expenses of the board l of health of said city, and the .ex- | Penses of, less receipts from, criminal | 1 outside of said district, and truant officers, which expenses shall be as- l -ertained and determined by the city ] auditor; and all other burdens and ex- nenses of said city shall be met by l taxation levied upon the inha bitants and property within the limits of the second district"
 By a later amendment, in the same session, the expenses of maintenance of the library were placed upon the first district.
 All Second District in 1889.
 Previous to 1889, the city, which practically comprised what is now known as the second district, was by self, and ''all the expense of making, maintaining and repairing highways, streets and bridges within the limits of said city, was to be assessed upon and paid by the inhabitants and prop erty of said city.
 Special laws, Vol. ', page s46.
 In addition, the city was obligated, previous to 1889, to pay for any street lighting, for any sewers, for any side walk or curb, for the expenses of it's police department, and fire depart F. ent, for all salaries of city officers for its parks, for land damages in cured by layout of streets, esta blish- T1ent of building lines, or other taking of property for public uses, for injuries to persons or property from defects in highways, for the expense Incident to the election of city officials, for the principal and interest of bonds issued by the city, for the. expenses of the city cour1 and of the public library, and for miscellaneous expenses for articles purchased or work done, or both, for the city.
 Towns Powers.
 On the other hand, the town, previ- ous to 1889, was obligated to pay the salaries of town officers, and the inter- ] est and principal of the towns funded | 'iebt and the floating debt, and the ex- 9enses of schools. care of the poor, | town elections, roads and bridges in l the town that were outside of the city, l and the state, county and military l communication taxes. The town also | had the right, in the territory outside | ,If the city, to have street lamps and i $ sdewalks; and by later statutes, to | have the streets sprinkled with water | il, or other substances.
 Towns are also empowered to have | plum ping inspectors, and outside of | Ihe limits OF any borough, city or fire | district, to provide for protection | againSt fire. now call your attention more speci- | ncally to items, taking as a basis the | city auditors report for the coming | fiscal year, dated Jan. 19, 1912, and ! in the public press.
 First District.
 Item: Bridges. superintendent of.
 This is small item, but note that It is half of the salary of the superin- tendent of bridges. Most of his work is done in looking after the bridges in the second district, and only that pro- portion of his salary can fairly be charged to the first district that the work of experimenting the few bridges in the first district bears to work of experimenting the large and complex bridges of the second dis trict.
 Item CD in regard to lights.
 So much the StTrpS reCOrn ended ] ty the auditor for lights that are m the second district should be charged solely to the second district. and the 1rst district charged with only such | -ums as may be appropriated for lights outside of the second district
 Item: Macadam repairs, roads and bridges, 2,5OJ.O0.
 So much of this sum as is appro- priated for road and bridge repairs in he second district should be charged solely to the second district and only hat part charged against the first dis trict that is to be used outside of the district.
 Another Instance.
 Item: Police and charities building 6,945.O0.
 Half of this building is used for the police department and the city court ana Is properly chargeable to the sec Jnd district only. The other half Jf he building for the charities depart Inent and the board of health is prop arly chargeable to the first district
 Item: Street grading, $15,O0O.0O
 If this money is to be all expended outside Of the second district it IS 5roperly chargeable to the first district If. on the other hand. part of it is to be expended in the second district then so much as is to be so expended should be taken out of the first district appropriation and charged against the second district.
 Item: Boston avenue wall, 6.OOO.OO.
 If this wall is in the second district,