The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-02-26

lax rates TOT 1919. Q1SGT4CC,
60 mills; Second district, Sc mills.
That, very briefly, is the result of a
four hour session of the board of APP
portionment and taxation yesterday
afternoon. From $3.50 O'Clock to $50
o'clock the board wrestled with ap-
preparations this year, shipping few
dollars here and there, and occasion
ally hearing vain appeals from Mayor
c. B. Wilson to keep the tax rate down
to the vicinity of priced Is mills. A
clash or two, with City Auditor Keat-
ing and Mayor Wilson, sitting in OPP
pOstte corners, enltvened the proceed
ure.
The changes from the original esti-
mates, compiled in preliminary bud
get by the board a week ago, were
not very marked. Only in spots were
the preliminary estimates curtai1ed,
the total appropriations finally made
being: First district, $S97,157.85; Sec
ond district, $1,088, 417.53.
Mayor Wilson started something"
when he quoted the city auditor as
having informed him that the city
would have a balance Of $4,000 at
the end of the year. and asked that
this be estimated as revenue.
MT. Heating told the board that the
mayor misunderstood him. Mr. Keat-
ing declared that deficit would re-
suit, instead of a surplus, because of
the failure of the tax collector to col
lect all taxes upon which the board
figured There is still to be collect
ed on this years tax $31,1e8.89, which
do not think can all be collected
during March. The cash balance on
hand at the end of each year, just
about makes up this deficit due to I'M
collected taxes
sswhy can't this balance be consid-
cred as an available asset?" asked the
mayor.
working capital to tide the city over
from April L until the taxes begin to
come in May. You business men
know that a working capital is neces-
sary to every business said the city
auditor.
tor, sit isn't safe for a city expending
100000 annually to try to get
along without a working capital"
This ended discussion on this point.
Some minutes later, member
asked the city auditor: 'If the tax
rate shouldn't provide enough revenue
to run the city, could the surplus be
used ?''
Mr.. Heating dismissed the question
with a wave of his hand as if it were
too much for him.
In reply to question by Mr.. Vim
cent, the city auditor, said he didn't
believe he could pay bills out of the
SURPLUS, Oul WO01O O0 8O40Oo III Ills
matter by the city attorney.
Mayor Wilson took ccasion to tell
the board that the contract and sup-
ply board would save the city about
$4,000 year, and impressed upon
the members the good that will re-
suit from monthly meetings of the
tax board.
The matter of oil and street sprink-
ling caused some discussion. 'The
city is conducting a losing business
by paying $4,000 for street sprinx-
ling and only getting back $35, 00O,"
said Mr.. Pierce. Mr.. Leeds said this
might account for the $4,000 deficit
this var. The board appropriated
$4,000 for this work, instead of $48,-
900 as recommended in the prelimi-
nary list.
Following the customary votes of
thanks to the mayor, city auditor and
city clerk for assistance rendered, the
board adjourned after fixing the tax
rate at So mills for the First district,
and 9.6 mills for the Second district.
FIRST DISTRICT
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