New Britain herald., 1916-01-11
Budget Shows Old Rate Would
 Not Produce Revenue Needed
10 YEAR LIGHTING CONTRACT
Connecticut Go. Plans to Go Back to Sixteen Candle Power Lamps On Whiting Street-Appropriatt for Memorial Day Raised to $75.

After the Selectmen had presented estimates showing that in no other way could the expenses for the fiscal year be met without .plunging the town further into debt, the voters at the adjourned annual town meeting held last evening adopted a motion raising the tax rate from fourteen to fifteen mills. The advance was made without the expected opposition, the faction faVoring a low rate failing to be represented at the gathering in any substantial numbers. For several days they had been arguing that they would stubbornly resist any effort to increase the rate but seemingly they had a change of heart and decided to keep away from the meeting.
 Manufacturers and representative business men were in the majority at the session and it required no great mental effort for them to realize the, necessity of a high rate. Hence the action.
 The voters last evening also ln- structed the selectmen to make a ten year contract with the United Elec- tric Light and Water company for street lighting, the town to pay SIS for each incandescent and the candle power to be increased from sixty to eighty. The contract will contain clause by paying the difference be- tween the new rate and the one in force under the old contract The selectmen were authorized to have in stalled not more than twenty new lights, the location of the lamps to be left to their discretion. A motion increasing the appropriation Tor Mem orial Day expenses from $40 to s75 was adopted as was a resolution instructing the selectmen to mail to each voter an estimate of receipts and expenses at least five days before any meeting at which a tax rate is to be considered in the future.
 The meeting was devoid of excite ment and no difficulty was experi- enced in getting favorable action on the motions presented. The attend ance was not in excess of fifty and the voters present did not appear to be in all argumentive mood.
 S. s. Gwillim was named to serve as chairman, Town Clerk R. c. Usher Keeping the records First Selectman Johnson estimated that the expenses for the year will probably total $3r- oSS.31, less s2,775, the income from licenses, fees, etc, leaving the net figures $34,313.31. Among the items in the budget were: Attorneys fees, s150; election expenses, $11O; fire warden, s75; fire department, $500; interest, $3,175; insurance, $353; water sS55; state, county and personal tax, s3,200; compensation, $314 mis- cellaneous, $500; tree warden, s75; poor, s3,OOO; town building, $1,0OO; okr 1i-rI4 I> town officers, s2,10o; police, s250; highways, $2,500; schools, $14,261; sinking fund $500.
 Grand List $2,347 ,OOO.
 The selectman reported that the board of assessors had advised him yesterday that the grand list would total $2,347,o00 against $2,245,30O for last year. A. H. Condell called at teEtion to the fact that the relief board would probably make some re- auctions and that the total would be somewhat lower before the tax is due. Replying to a question from John B. Minor, Selectman Johnson said that there is a bond due this year and the sinking fund will be short $2OO by October II, the date it must be paid.
 John T. Trumbull did some calcula- ting while the discussion was in pro- gress and he explained that a four teen mill tax would produce but s32,84S in revenue even if all the taxes were collected and as 8 result there would be a deficit of 1,425. Fifteen mills would bring in $35,2O5, leaving a balance of $882 but extra expenses, not included in the select men's budget, would easily eat up this and the town would be no better than "even with the board" at the end of the year.
 MT. Trumbull argued that it is good business, good finance and good citi- zenship to pay. as you go and with that in mind he offered a motion making the rate for the coming year fifteen mills. He called attention to an item of $3,175 for interest in the estimate and explained that if the town had paid it's bills in the past it would be absent from the budget. Soon, he claimed, the town will have to face the sewer problem and unless it can be shown that the officers have run their departments on a business basis it will be difficult, if not inn possible, to sell the bonds.
 Selectman Johnson explained that the schools will cost $4,00O more this year than last as the appropriation of $2,600 usually received from the state will not be given. He also called attention to the fact that petitions for from twenty to thirty new lights have | been presented and there will be additional expense from this source. | From A. H. Condell came the infOrma- 1 t1on that hereafter the town will have l to pay $2,000 every year to attend to it's bonds
 MT. Trumbull's motion was carried l by a rising vote, tWentyfour to four.
 Special Meeting.
 After the adjourned annual meet ing a special town meeting was called | to consider the lighting question and |