New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-02
OFFICIALS DEFEND
RECORD BUDGET
1917 Figure Is Sl2,l33,S6l
More than 1916-Tax
Rate Uncertain

The Board Of Estimate did not finish
It's labors on the 1917 budget until the
ROSTERS had begun to crow in Green
wich Village yesterday morning. The
/ last of its members TO sign the docu-
ment, which will mean Sl2.0OO,OOO more
/ for the taxpayers 70 meet than in 1916,
wrote his name at 4:25 o'clock.
The final budget figure was SILL
1905. The tax budget for 1916, omit
ting the direct state tax of s13,975,O2l'
was 1888 ,l55, making an increase in
the 1917 budget Of S12,133,S6l. This Is
the record budget in size in the history
of the city. The city officials had hoped
to keep the figures down TO within slV'-
OOO.O Of what they were last year. ex-
GLIDING the direct state tax, Of when
there is no levy for 1917.
Controller Explains Increase
Increased debt service Of the city, in
creased appropriation for the Board oil
Education, appropriation for widows
nensjons. tax deficiencies and increases
in salaries in the Police and Fire de-
partments about covered the $4,000
900 total increase in the budget ac-
cording TO Controller William A. Prem
dergast. His figures were as follows;
Debt service .................ss %p'9uI'nl1
Education .''.'-''''' i'SSg'ooo
] Widows pensions
rrsv dceciencies ............ 100000
Mandatory yerrly salary incrc-
ments in Police. Fire, City Col
lege Correction. Street Cleaning
and Education Department.. l'Oo0'OpV
Total NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 1900
"Thc increase of s6,5OO,OOO in debt
service" the Commissioner explained,
ais due principally % to the maturing
of s2,5OO,OOO bonds of the municipali-
ties in Queens County, issued prior to
consolidation, for which no sinking
fund was established; (2) to 100000
included for interest on rapid transit
bonds for that portion Of the new sub
ways put in operation. 90 to Sl,OOO,OOO
for the redemption of serial bonds, ti)
TO ss75.0OO additional for the redemp-
ton of special revenue bonds and 90
to 100000 additional for the install
ments due to the sinking fund OF the
City Of New York"
Mayor Issues Statement
Mavor Mitchell issued a statement
yesterday. pointing out that while the
aggregate of the budget for all the
administrative departments under his
jurisdiction was $74l,l3S higher than
in 1916, the increase was due entirely
to raised salaries in the Police and Ere
departments and the addition of 235
patromen and forty-three sergeants IN
the Police Department.
without these increases in the two
departments the sum total Of the bud
get Of the executives departments
would be S53961 less than in 1916.
The Mayor called attention 20 the fact
that the total appropriations for the
departments under him was Sl,737O67
less than when the present admins
tration took office, on January l, 1914.
Controller Prendergast issued state
ment to correct the reports that the
tax rate next year would be somewhat
higher. He pointed out that the final
total assessed valuations OF taxable
property for the year 1917 only could
be estimated at this time and that any
forecast Of the tax rate necessarily
would have 10 be based upon an as
sessed valuation. which. 1t is assumed,
will be finally confirmed.
The Controllers estimated rates IN
the five boroughs, allowing for a tax
necessary 10 raise a total of 81 ,21s,782
for special assessments which may be
confirmed in time to be included in the
/ 1917 budget were: