New Britain herald., 1916-03-08
Heapy Tax Rate Threatened Unless Much Pairing is Done Finance Board Hears Talk of 21 # Mis-Charity De- partment, New Britain Institute, Erwin Mem-
 orial and Parks Get Hearings.

That the city tax rate may run to
 201k mills unless the board of finance and taxation does some real cutting was strongly intimated at it's meeting last night. Although the board has closely scrutinized the figures of the various departments as they have come before it, nothing has developed where they can prune any large sum without apparently impairing the work of that department. The bulk of the city departments have now had a hearing and the estimates of each have been carefully presented and good reasons offered to show the needs of the appropriations sought. Last night the board considered the esti- mates of the charity departm ent, the New Britain Institute and the park de- partment including the Erwin mem orial committee.
 Charity Department.
 The charity department was repre- sented by Superintendent Alonzo J. Hart and Commissioner Frank Riley Superintendent Hart did most of the talking, being occasionally assisted by Commissioner Riley. The department asks for a total of $5S,30O, ali increase of about $S,200 over last years ap- propriation. For the town home be asked $17,00o, the same as granted last year and for repairs s1,OOO as against $1,600 voted last year. The new dairy barn, which it is estimated will cost s6,000, was one of the chief items discussed. It was put over last year owing to the, poor financial outlook. Mir. Hart said the barn is badly needed. The present structure is in poor condition, being low and damp and inadequate for the re- quirements. They are using an aban- doned pig sty to house some of the l heifers owing to lack of room. Mir. Hart said they were afraid the barn would cave in and kill some of the stock
 Replying to a question concerning the proposed barn, Commissioners Riley said the city engineer had given the figure between $5,000 and s6,OOOs Schaeffer wanted to know. if this appropriation couldn't go over until next year, MT. Hart said they had been asked the same question last l year. .s'.-
 Other Departments.
 For outside poor the estimate is | SIS, 900 as last year and for the hos nitals and asylums $16,OO0, an in crease of $3,000. MT. Hart said it ] Is difficult to accurately estimate the requirements in this direction. To date the department has spent for this purpose $14,664.93.
 Speaking of the grocery department maintained by the board. Superinten- dent Hart figured it saves them $1,310 this year. Groceries are bought at wholesale and the saving over retail prices in distributing the goods to outside poor is the above amount. Commissioner Atwood was interested in the grocery department as were other members of the board. MT. Hart said they carry eleven articles all staples including potatoes which ase raised on the farm. At present hey have 150 bushels more than the nome will require and which can be sold at profit as potatoes are now very high.
 Farm Run at Profit.
 The town farm is being conducted profitably. The actual figures are s6,547.25 and come from the farm, dairy, poultry, swine and horses. The costs are carefully charged against each item on the farm
 This year office expense will in crease $50, last year being $500. MT. Hart estimated the salaries at $4,400, but amended these figures to S4,200 when it was shown an error had been made. Last year salaries totaled l $3,90O. The superintendent of the | poor. asks for an increase of $500, | bringing his salary up to $1,500. The | salary of Superintendent Kibbe is 1000 and it is proposed to raise it 1 $200. The departments investigator is paid s1,000, the clerk $500 and