The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-27

To the Honorable Board of Appor-
 ttonment and Taxation of the City
 of Bridgeport, Conn.,
 Eentlemen-
 We are confronted again with the problem or providing for the wants bf a growing municipality for another nscaI year. Increased industrial ac- hvities have so increased the demands upon US that we are obliged to resort b unusual means in order to ade- auateIy provide for the city's needs.
 The problem which confronts city, but once in its existence has come to Bridgeport and it. now rests with us for our own sake to meet it and solve 1t effectually, lest upon our failing to do so the industrial boom may desert us and seek more suspicious or con genial soil in which to grow
 Our c1ty's entire future depends to a great extent on how we meet the present issue We have it in our power, either to make or to mar tlte rify's future development
 Tn order to solve the problem, we must spend money but we ought to spend it wisely, so that full value and adequate results may be obtained for the outlay.
 We do not want to be too optimistic, not too conservative but steer the hap py middle course. Provide fully Tor all reasonable requirements, but not be too Sangu1ne that Jhe 1nOuStr16l OOO1AAs 9n it's present proportions is going to stay with us after the conditions which were the immediate causes of it's crea1 Hon have ceased to exist We cannot and ought not to be expected to pro- vide for the unusual demands upon us by the ordinary revenues from taxa ton. but are justified in resorting to bonding for all Improvements of a permanent nature. But we ought not to bond for anything else. and the life Of the bonds in every instance ought to be less than the life of the improve ment bonded for.
 Innings We Ought Not to Bond For
 have never favored and do not now favor bopding for the ordinary nor maj needs of the city in the matter of grade schools look upon such inn provements as current needs and ex- lpenses as 1ong.as our city continues to grow, and we ought to provide for teuch normal growth from year to year from the proceeds of taxation. But in the case of abnormal growth like the present, consider that we are fully Justified in bonding for grade schools Ito the extent at least of such excess Irecuirements above the normal ones. { or course, there can be no question that the cost of new High schools, ITechnica1 schools, or Trade schools. which are required perhaps, but once in a generation ought to be spread over the entire period of the life of such improvementss as it would be un- just to compel the taxpayer in any l one year to meet their cost. The school auth critics state in their reqdisition to me that they do not ask for any ap- propriation for the construction of new grade schools from the proceeds 4 of taxation, but expect that all re- ] quirements will be provided from the lE,rorA1dez of a h0nd fSSuG.
 Therefore, in accordance with their express wish, I do not make any rec ommendation for an appropriation for new grammar schools
 The Debt of City.
 It will do no harm to bear in mind that while the city is not up to the legal limit, still it is fairly large and requires quite a share of our revenues to care for 1t. During the next fiscal year, the existing debt will require s413.9O3 to meet it's obligations. This includes payment to sinking fund, in staIations on serial bonds and notes, and interest This sum does not pro- Ivide- nor any contemplated additions to Our bonded Gebt. as ann unable at 4he present time to figure with ac- 6curacy the amount of such additions. As soon as the volume of same can be even Approximately ascertained, money must be provided to meet such new Obligations In ad0luon ro3 the I forexosug sum- So that it can be readily seen that the city debt is not an unrnixed blessing If it could be 1 avoided. we would be much better off ? without it. It is well to bear in mind, however, that under our excellent system of serial bond and note issues, we are paying off. each year, a fair portion of the debt and are thus light. enfng future burdens to that extent at least The following are the items called for in caring for our city debt: Sinking Fund to meet two is-
 Eues of bonds at mzturity--$ IT, 900 1nzta11nents on serial bonds -14S, 800 1nsta11rnents on serial notes-- 71,o00 4Interest on bonds Il 163, 3S3 Interest on notes 1S,62o
 Total $413. eO3
 Improvements to Be Bonded For.
 eliminate the following requisi- 4z6ns from my list of appr opriations recommended. because in my A1udg- naent they are when required, proper subjects for bonding:
 New building for Health
 Department $200, 00O-00 New slaughter house -- 100000 New library building sites 25, ,00o-o6 sBerkHhire pond. new bridge | ,00o.oe' New comfort stations 25, 5,000- co Fire Department, new
 building ,.--2.-.-..- so.ooo.oo Land danages, special -.- 216, 4s7-o1 Bituminous macadam pave
 ment .......... 15o. DO Police Department, new
 buildings ..... 75,ooo % Sewer construction -.- 419. .115.oo Seaside Park wall extension 2O,oO0 %
 Total ~~$ l. ZZ5, OO
 I provide for the following perma- 11ent improvements. from the proceeds { of taxation. because deem~1t impera- tive that they should be provided for at once:
 AImshouae completion and
 equipment $37. 365s45 City Hall changes in vaults,
 etc. 7,5oo %
 I entirely eliminate the. requfsition