The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-01-26

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buildings 100000
| Sewer construction ..... 419,115.00
| Seaside Park wall extension 100000
Total ..<,........ 81 ,225, $4,000
| L provide for the following pern1a-
nent improvements. from the proceeds
! Of taxation. because deem it irnpera-
| tive that they should be provided for
at. once: ~
A1mshouse completion and
| equipment $37, 365. 46
City Hall changes in vaults
etc anfirelv terminate the reauisition
for new water bound rnacadarn,
amount $236,7O5 because I think that
| it would be a mistake to spend the
money asked for this kind of street
covering. It is better to get more
serviceable pavement, even if the hrst
| cost is greater, for the difference in
cost can be saved by elimination OF
future maintenance expenses.
No pavement ought to be put down
on which a five year guaranty cannot
be obtained, and thus save the ex-
pense of maintenance for that period
at least 81
City, Planning.
I fully realize the Importance of city
planning and the great handicap that
our city is under for want of a def
mite plan as a guide for future Inn
provements. The Herring sewer plan
has already proved its value and While
it has not been formally adopted by
the city, all sewer improvements SO
far as practicable are planned along
its lines and the expense incurred for
the plan has been fully justified.
Now that city planning has been be-
gun, it would be q mistake not to con-
tinuue it. A reasonable appropriation
this year to supplement the approprta-
ton made two years ago by the city
added to the contributions of public
spirited citizens already made for the
purpose will place the matter on a
firm basis and enable the City Plan
commission to do good work that will
prove beneficial to the city and save
many times the cost of plan in avoid.
ing the mistakes of the future and
remedying those of the past
Tax Attachments.
I reiterate my previous statements
about the wholesale manner OF ahat-
ing taxes, assessments and interest
due every year. am obliged to credit
to the collector a. very considerable
sum for attachments made of taxes and
assessments and have no doubt that
the readiness to make such abate-
nents on request hampers the col1ec-
tor in his work to some extent. For
when attachments are to be had for the
asking, people reason that they can
delay payment Of taxes and assess
me11ts and at least secure the abate-
ment of the interest penalty on some
pretext or other.
No allowance has heretofore been
made by the Board of Apportionment
and Taxation for such attachments but
as it is such a large amount, it would
be wise hereafter to consider it in final
statement. Attachments ought to be
confined to meritorious cases when
people are unable to pay and are like
" to become public charges if pay
ment is enforced or where error has
crept in, which would render the col
lection of the tax or assessment unfair
or unjust.
Tax Collection Methods.
I have been of the opinion for many
years that a decided improvement
could be made by some changes in the
City Charter relative to tax co1lec-
tions. At the present time, taxes are
due and payable i'm entirety, on the
first day of April each year, and at
least rs per cent. of the entire tax is
collected on or before June first each
year This gives to the city a large
sum of money for which it has no i'm
mediate use and which is divided and
placed among our local national banks
and trust companies and on which the
city receives interest at the rate OF
two per cent. per annum on daily ball
ances. The city thus takes from the