Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-06-29
TUESDAY EVENING. JUNE 30, 1916
TAX RATE SCARS sKYwARp.

The amount of ratableB which is to be taxed this
year is yet to be ascertained by the Tax Board and
upon the basis of this amount the tax rate win be
fixed Estimating on an increase of about eight mil
lions the city rate will be about sS on the hundred
dollars To be added to this is the county rate.
This year the freeholders, it is said, have re:
duced the rate by point compared with last year,
and the figure will be 50 But it is by means a
certainty that the county tax rate will be changed
from that of 1914 This added to the estimated city
rate would give total rate of 9s2 for the taxpayer
This is an increase of about rs points last year.
when the rate was 2.O8
The years budget as now adopted by the finance
committee calls for an increase of $1O69,8594S in
the ctys expenditures OF this large increase about
1893, 900 is accounted for in mandatory appropra-
tons Even without these the budget is much
higher than that which Mayor Haussling signed last
year, Notwithstanding that about $500, 900 cut
out of the estimates A million dollars in the con-
tngent fund is allowed for In making the budget
But for this cash resource the tax rate would go
"sky high
This is the highest tax bill for the Newark citizen
to pay since 19O9 when the rate was 2.32 Be-
tween 1898 and 1903, inclusive, the annual rate
ranged from 2.1O to 232 The highest rate for
property in the history of the city 244. in 1882
but this much lower rate of valuations and
the county rate that year exceptionally high,
the city rate being only four points less than the
estimate for this year.
The present city administration appears to be
in line to have the distinction of about high a
city tax rate and the second highest combined city
and county tax rate recorded the books of the
city since Newark became incorporated city.
There may be slight change when the ratables are
established but this is liable operate either way
1t will be wildly recalled by almost every voting
citizen of Newark how the high tax rate played
up by Thomas L. Raymond in his campaign for mayor
last fall. The rate then 2OS Specimen copies
of tax bills accompanied by circular letters were
mailed to individual voters. Attention called
to the enormity of the crme" represented in the
rate perpetrated by the Democratic administra-
tion the people.
"The Democrats" quoth Mr.. Raymond, from the
rostrum, "could not have provided with bette,
campaign material than this tax bill Exhibiting one
applicable to the section of the city in which he was
delivering the speech Read your tax bill. That ii
all / ask you to do"
Mr.. Raymond and his campaign orators assured
the people that the election of Raymond meant
lower tax begin with. That would be the hrs
shot out of the box-a greatly reduced tax rate.
Democratic speakers frankly declared that the,
could not how Mr.. Raymond could bring abou
such result that the voters being beguiled
bamboozled. Conditions that must prevail did no
Justify such promise
But it could be done, and what's more would be
provided Raymond elected mayor, reiterated th
Raymond spell-binders.
The people swallowed the bait, however and now
instead of 2.OS rate they will be confronted b.
2.32 figure This is reduction but 1t is of the re
duction ascending type.
Just what Mayor Raymond and his spell
binders would make of the tax bills this fall, If tn
mayor was candidate for reelection, is not
problematical point.