Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-06-17
All Records Broken with 200
Cents on the Dollar.
This Notwithstanding Mig Increase in
Grand List--$2tO.OOO of Amount
to lie Raised Has Already
been Expended.

cents more than last year. 1t has been
the expectation for some time that s.
tax would he necessary to clean the slate
Of accumulated overdrafts amounting to
$4,000 and at the same time provide
enough to pay the city's increased eX-
penses. The aldermen discussed the tax
levy somewhat and then adopted the reso-
luton fixing the rate and apportioning
the appropriations.
The tax question was brought to the at
tention of the board in the budget of es-
! tmated expenses, submitted by the
finance committee. City Treasurer Grant,
who was present said that the amounts
mentioned in the budget while large
enough to cover what 1t was thought
would be needed were none too large and
that only by the practice of strict econ
omy could the expenses be kept within
the sums as estimated.
The city treasurer was asked If there
was any way of compelling the depart
ments to keep within their appropriations.
He said that was perhaps a question for
the aldermen to decide who had the APP
prevail of the bills and the ordering of
mayors warrants.
Alderman Walker mentioned that the
appropriation for band concerts of sloo1
did not pay for enough concerts. He said
that the band played only Il times last
year while they formerly played 20. He
ex oppressed himself also as against allow
ing the Merchants association paying
only one dollar a year for rent of their
room in the Stannard Memorial building.
Alderman Buell. said he wished that the
appropriations had included a little some
thing for the repair of the lower road to
Winooski which was fast developing
holes. In the discussion that followed
Alderman Woodbury. said that the prac
tice of using redstone on the surface of the
road was responsible for the condition OF
many of the roads a. this sort of stone
would not bind. He suggested that the
city use limestone rock.
The budget as sent in by the finance
committee was accepted and resolution
was introduced fixing the tax rate at s.
and authorizing the appropriations to the
various departments estimated by the
finance committee. Alderman Buell.
moved that the resolution be adopted.
He said there seemed to be a general
sentiment that a 81 tax was coming this
year and that 1t would be a good thing
to clean the slate. Alderman Kiesich
said he thought that the s1.75 tax of last
year might prove sufficient II economy
was practiced in all the departments.
He thought the city government had
been a little careless in the way it had
allowed some of the departments to do
business, but that with looking after it
now it might be possible to save in
many directions He mentioned case
of the street department paying about
ft,. Toll
when brought to the city by its teams,
when, he said, the same gravel he I'M
derstood could have been delivered at
the dock in this city for 80 cents yard
Alderman Woodbury. was in favor Of
cleaning up the overdraft which had ac-
cumulated in the last three years and
favored starting with a clean slate. He
seconded Alderman Buelrs motion
City Treasurer Grant addressed the
board on the subject. He said that in
considering the expenses one must re-
member the uncollected taxes and the
uncolected sidewalk and sewer assess
ments that are being carried along by
the city. He mentioned the fact that the
city is doing business now through the
Kindness of its friends as 1t has borrow
ed the amount to which it is entitled
legally in anticipation of the collection
of taxes, Tho city has been seriously
hampered in the last two or three years
because ii did not have money enough
to carry on its business. 1t has cost
nearly so" for one thing to carry on
the accumulated overdrafts Of 5000
The city Is also obliged to pay yearly a
large interest account amounting to about
$1,000. Last year only short time
after the payment Of taxes, the city be-
gan to borrow in anticipation of the next
collection. He added that he thought it
was time the city raised enough money
to pay its running accounts as it is
humiliating to do business the way il
has been done. Many bills have been
held up that ought to be paid and they
are being held up to-day In answer to
a question, he said that the city had al
ready expended 500 600 Of the money to
be raised by taxation, this including the
amount of the $4,000 overdraft.
The tax resolution was then adopted
as follows;
Resolution relating to tax 'evy. 1915
City of Burlington. in the year ono
thousand nine hundred and fifteen. Re
solved, by the board of aldermen of the
city of Burlington. as follows
That tax of two hundred cents on
the dollar of the grand list of said city
for the year 1915, is hereby levied and
assessed to meet the accrued and ac-
cruine expenses and liabilities of said
city, for the year ending December 81
1915.
That the city treasurer is directed to
place to the credit of
Band concerts S,nno m