The Princeton union., 1914-09-17
WILL ADD TO TAXES
That is What a Change From a VIII
lage to a City Form of Municipal
Government Means.
No Valid Reason Has or Can Be Ad.
Vanced in Favor of the Change
Recently Proposed.

Next Tuesday a special election is
to be held in this village to give the
voters an opportunity of determin-
ing whether or not they favor a
city form of government, if the ma
jority are in favor of putting on
city airs then it will be in order to
get up a petition to the district
court for the appointment of COM
mission of Is freeholders who have
been residents of the village five
years, to prepare and submit a
charter: within six months thereaf-
ter the charter must be submitted
to the voters for their approval or
rejection: if approved by the voters
then another election must be called
to select city officers. If the charter
is rejected the commission can fix
up new one and submit the same
to the voters and this can go on in
definitely. To start with it will re-
quire three elections to get city
government under way:-the election
next Tuseday, an election to adopt
or reject the charter, an election to
elect city officers if the charter is
adopted.
About the cost. A village election
can cost anywhere from $1,000 to
s6O.OO-it depends on the judges
and clerks, and how much they want
to earn. Three elections. Figure it
out for yourself. The charter must
be drafted and printed. Lawyers
and printers will have to be paid
The Anoka charter would fill six
pages Of the Union set in solid type.
At a conservative estim ate, it would
cost the village at least 200 to
change from village to city. And
that is only the commencement. 1t
is not to be presumed that ordin-
ances and bye-laws that answered
for the village would do for the city.
That would mean several hundred
dollars additional expense. In the
name of Common sense what is to be
gained by changing from village to
a city? There is no question about
the additional expense. Princeton
City will be no bigger or richer than
Princeton Village. The same tax
payers will have to foot the bills.
The Lord knows local taxes are high
enough at present. Why increase
them? In good faith the Union has
requested those who favor a city
form of government to give some
reason why the change would prove
beneficial to Princeton. There has
been no respones. The Union has no
ak to grind. If it could be demon
strated that a city form of govern
ment would reduce taxes and give in
creased efficiency in the way of street
improvement, water, light, etc., the
Union would heartily favor the
change.
AS has been shown in these COL
umns the initial cost of changing to
city would be not less than 81, 300
that 81, 200 could be used to better
advantage on our streets-and there
is every reason to believe that the
running expenses Of city govern
ment would exceed those of the
village.
Then we ask why should any tax
payer favor the change? We do not
care to discuss the question. 1t does
seem as if no discussion were neces-
sary If the taxpayers of Princeton
want to jump from the frying pan
into the fire it is their own busi-
ness. The election on Tuesday next
has no legal effect. AS we under
stand it, it is simply to get the SEN
timent of the people. But, as sug-
gested in the Union, the form of
ballot to be used should have been
published.
In our judgement the proper thing
to do would be to bury the city
proposition out Of sight, anyhow at
least until Princeton has doubled it's
present population.
NJ