The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-25
CITY AUDITORS
 ANNUAL. REPOR r


 tionment and Taxation of the City l of Bridgeport:- GentIenen:- y, you my annual report, showing the reuuisitions Appropriations and Esd, SzaGted receipts for the next n,fE;nd nseaI problems are before us in connection with the preparation of the city budget for such year.
 Taxing Districts
 One of these problems is that rela- tive to our taxing districts. The re- cent Supreme Court decision has de- Chamberlain property in North Bridgeport, is not liable under exist ing law, for a second district tax.
 We need an entire readjustment Of our second district lines. The sg1st Of the Court decision is that the, city must retain it's two taxing districts large the area of the second district by taking in to 1t the greater portion of tinez area of the first district, n- ciudfng all that portion of the latter, now practically receiving second ols- trict benefits and improvements. The lines of the two districts ought to pc readjusted to conform to the changed conditions of the city, since town and city were iconsoIdated. for tha5 at, ad7 1889, the date of such consolidation, may be, and in fact is unfair z6 .{s7s ss.- matter will be as fairly adjusted as possible by means of an amend nent to our charter. and that the new lines will leave 1n the nrsL qlss 4Ie trdct only property situated ss IS the Chamberlain property, not new re- cetving nor desiring city improve & vnents nor likely to require or re- ce1ve such Improvements for many years to come Owners of property thus situated ought not. to pc sn7 tdistricf tax Many or the pfoperIy| 7 owners in the first district only frankly concede that their prop perIy ifs receiving full benefits and ought to pay both district rates.
 If this district readJustn1en IS tanaS1e before your final meeting this year, it will be necessary to read5usf the appropriations and. tax rates, so as to conform to the changed cond1- lions. but even in that case 1t will not be necessary to increase the tax rate recoInnended by me. because the valuation of property left in the nrst district only will be so small as to make no sappreciabie difference in the tax rate. or render any increase in the total rate necessary @
 The State Tax.
 It is difficult to determine, at this time, whether or not State Tax VIII be required this year It is one or the unfortunate circumstances con- nected with the preparation Of our city budget, at this time of the year, gree of certainty, what our obliga- tioIls to the State will be, or their amount cannot make any pro- vision for the State tax now, because do not know that such a tax will he frnposed by the L-egisIature or if imposed what the rate or amount of same will be- I aincerely trust that some sources of revenue to take the place of such tax can be found. SC pensed with or at any rate reduced from the present oppressive rate Perhaps before the date of your final can have such additional light on the tII1jec1 as will enable you to act in- telIigentIy and with a full knowledge the mai ter If you definitely ascertain thai such a tax will be levied and required to the Appropriations for the nexi fiscal year. The City s exper1ences o1 the present fiscal year ought not tc be repeated by the necessity for pro- v1dfng for double state tax, in any one year. believe in the principle of providing fully for each years 7 year for there is no economy in post ponang payment of a current sobnga- to fhe principal as a penalty for de lay
 Bonding for Pamanent Improve menfs Only.
 It cannot be too much emphasized that the city ought not to go in deb or bond for current expenses of an! kind They. should be entirely de and from aIolsl the l otsaer osIa ordi1lasy re7e snues of the City, Bonding should b. con6ned to so-ca1led permanent i'm II nlents as win extend over a. consider able period of umes and the tim. limit of the bonds ought never t exceed and seldom ought to equa the Hfe Of the Improvement bondee for. A public act of the last genera saTnaif I@ the enanaes anestion o Of bonding @ t the approval of the Common Counei and of the electors of the city ant and foot tha bills to deternain whether or not they desire to mort gage their property, by bonding fo
 Believing that many of the recuisi lions contain items that are c1earl hats all such from the list Of sppro pria4ions and thus put 1t up to tn Cityss representattVes in the Com selves, in city meeting, to say w1la are or are not proper matters fo bonding The y,, only nn;itaf,on n 4o1 Pl@aee ace not exceed i've per cent of the City
 Requisit1ons tzaus el1rntnated.
 Comfort staH .s 62,0O0.o New Slaughter House 100000 Branch Library Sites 25,0O0.0 Fire Depa<tnoe1t New ooo q Seaside Park Sea Wall
 Extensions 100000
 I place the last named requisitfo in the above category because in m Judgment 1t Is better to bond for tn entire sum required to extend tn Sea. Wall and Boulevard to Payer weather Island and thence by bridg sl to. Black Rock and thus get the bene it of bids for the entire work at on time and also secure the completio of the ipFoyement within a. responsi bIe time.
 The drawbridge across Black Roc Harbors and the Sea Wall and Boule ward are surely permanent improve ments.
 Other regulations eliminated:
 II also eliminate the following re quisitfons from the list of appropria lions:
 Permanent Pavement,
 new $184, 1000
 Pavement 4s.7oo.o