Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-07
LARGEST TAXES IN
IN NEW LONDoN'S HISTORY
Of the Levy OF 1915 Collector Douglas
Has Received $685., 591l22.

The largest total Of taxes ever col
lected in the history of New London
was taken in by Collector Charles 3.
Douglas on the levy of 1915. Up to
Aug. 1 it consisted of $33, 309.42 levied
on real estate and personal property
and $1,781.80 on sidewalk improve
ments. In addition to this amount.
Collector Douglas received, during the
past ten months $42, 962.59 in back
taxes, OF which $4,362.1G was for ac-
crued interest. Since Oct. 1 last 40
liens have been released on real estate
and personal property.
The receipts for the ten months Of
the fiscal year expiring July 81 on the
levy of 1915 alone exceed those for the
entire fiscal year of 1915 by more than
$1,000, the total income for the latter
period being $685., 686.27. The total
levy for 1915 which was placed in the
hands of Mr.. Douglas for collecting
is 1899, 1929 for ordinary taxes and
So, 1896 for sidewalk improvements
On the face Of these returns a bal
ance of approximately $66, coo would
be still due the city. In this respect,
however, the figures are deceptive and
it is evident that some revision in the
method Of assessment will be neCeS-
sary before a sound basis for calcula-
ton Of municipal income will be avail
able.
As an example of this there is in
Guided in the amount turned over TO
Mr.. Douglas to collect something like
$1,000 claimed to be due from the
Central Vermont Transportation Co..
a subsidiary of the Central Vermont
Railway Co, which owns and oper-
ates steamers New York and New
London running from this port to New
York.
The company has always denied liza
bility for this tax and has never paid
It, alleging as q reason for doing so
that the in Now
London seven months in the year.
The question is sUll in litigation in
the courts and there are further
claims against the company for taxes
remaining on the collectors books
amounting to $4,000.
1t IS argued by those familiar with
the situation that it is unWise BUSH
ness policy for the assessors to as
sumo as an asset taxes of this char
acter which are prOblematicaI as to
collection. The Central Vermont case
is but one of many where taxes have
been levied which are to say the least
more or less of doubtful validity. In
other words, the estimated income OF
the city is padded to a certain extent
by funds il will never receive.
Errors, doubtless unavoidable, are
made, persons are assessed for
property they do not own, personal
property, such as yachts is placed on
the list here when the owner is al
req dE paying taxes on the same thing
somewhere else, and so On--but all
these sums which viii never reach
the municipal treasury are on record
to swell Che estimated income of New
London.
The result of this is readily ap-
parent. AS stated, while on the face
Of the returns it would seem that Col
lectOr Douglas had still something
like $4,000 to collect, as a matter Of
fact there is only a fractional portion
Of that amount which in all proba-
bility is obtainable. In the opinion
Of Mr.. Douglas five per cent. at least
of the total levy should be deducted
annually under the present system
as impossible Of collection.
One city official said Saturday that
he could see no possibility Of the tax
rate for the ensuing year being less
than 20 mills and probably more
The only solution of the problem he
continued, is to assess property on
100 per cent basis instead of an so
per cent, one. New London is pay
ing the state of Connecticut on the
former plan which the law requires
and is receiving into it's own tras-
uTy taxes based on the latter
AN increase" to 100 per cent. or
in other words an assessment based
on fair market value and eQuitably
distributed will in my opinion be es-
sentiaI to solve the financial situation
which eW London now faces he
concluded.