New Britain herald., 1915-01-15
TAX RAISE NEEDED
 FOR IMPROVEMENTS
Extra Mill Will Be Required fl
 Voters Approve Petitions.
SELECTNEN WORK ON BUDGET
New Highway in Westwood Park Will Cost at Least $1, 1,5OO-Ordnary EX- penses Will Not Differ Materially From Last Years.


 From Last Years.
 Unless there is substantial in 1 crease in the grand list, the voters will ! have to raise the tax rate to fifteen mills. should they approve of the ex- traordinary expenses called for in the petitions for improvements to be act cd on at the adjourned annual town meeting Monday night. This is the opinion of First Selectman w. J. Johnson as expressed to Herald man this morning in discussing the l bedget which the town officials are working on at the present time. The estimates thus far prepared lead the selectmen to believe that the | ordinary expenses for the year will be approximately 36,000, which is com paritively the same as was charged up last year. The fourteen mill tax rate now in existence will produce l enough revenue to cover this amount l without plunging the town further in- to debt but extras will have to be paid for by an additional tax unless the assessors give the grand list a material boost.
 F.. A. Freeman, chairman of the board of assessors said this morning
 
 the grand list at Monday nights meet ing and from that some idea may be gleaned as to what receipts are to be expected during the coming year. He gave no intimation to the extent of the increase, but it was said by the selectmen that the raise will not be far above normal The assessors have been working diligently for weeks and it Is said that they have revised the list greatly, making some reduc- tionS as well as increases. The school board has filed an es- timate of the cost of educating the children of the town during the year. It figures the expense of this depart | ment will be approximately 5000 which is about the same as last years. Selectman Johnson expects a substan- tial increase in the charity account and he also expects that the town building account will show a raise. Extensive repairs are needed in the town hall and the selectmen believe the expense for the necessary changes should be borne this year Other de- partm ments will show no material changes as far as the ordinary ex- penseS are concerned.
 Should the voters approve of the
  wood park, the town must spend at least $1 300 for the improvement, MT. Johnson believes. There is also a plan on foot for the esta ablishment of evening schools, which will have to be paid for The. citizens back of the proposition claim they will ask for an appropriation of but $50 This however, added to the other extras with teams in this district will demand an extra mill to the tax rate.
 There are twenty-one houses in Westwood park, the occupants of which would be served by the pro- posed new highway. Merchants and others desirous of making deliveries would also be benefited and 1t would | be possible to get the post office de- | partment to extend It's rural delivery | service to that territory. People in l the Mountain View section are ex- l pected to be out in force Monday | night and they are said to be plan l ming a determined effort to get favor 1 able action on the highway plan.
 Criticisc School Board.
 Criticism of the school board for | having cement walk laid in front of | the school plant on Broad street with | out the consent of the voters, 1t was said today, will be heard at the town meeting.
 There has always been a difference | of opinion as to the boards authori- l ty to expend any money for improve .ments not actually within the boun- daries of the property used for school purposes and some of the voters, it | is said, are planning to air their l,o meeting.
 SThe school committee claims it had the right to have the walk laid and l the members seemingly do not believe | a complaint is justified as the i'm provement well Warranted the, ex- pense incurred, even should there be l some technical point which might make the change one for the voters to deci le on.
 Enjoy Oyster Supper.
 Members of Sequassen lodge l. o. 0. F., and visiting Odd Fellows en- ioyed an oyster supper served in their hall last evening in connection with the installation of officers for the en- suing year. There were number of 1 guests from Bristol, PeQuabuck lodge ! sending d large delegation to accom- pany District Deputy M. Deetus and staff, who were in charge of the in- stallation exercises
 The following officers were seated:
 Noble Grand-J. w. Pease
 -Grand-H. o. Thompson.
 Recording Secretary-W. J. Me kec.
 Financial Secretary-F. G. Osborne
 Treasurer-H E. Peck.
 Trustee-David Gould.
 k. $. to N. CIV S Pease