The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-24
Esr $4ATED OUTLAY
s OR YEAR, S351,917.O1
Committee States That the
Taxpayers Were Fortu-
nate in Not Being Called
on to Pay a Higher Rate
During Past Year Than
They Did

BY far the most iolting recommends
tion made by any of the aldermanic COM
mittees in supplementing their reviews
of 1915 with statements of what ought
| to be done in 1917 is the mention made
of a $3.50 tax rate in the annual report
of the finance committee, which was re-
ceived at the meeting OF the board of al
dermen last evening. A grist of reports,
covering the years doings in several city
departments was handled by the alder
men, but the finance committee, in a
meeting surfeited with dry statistics and
formal rhetoric, contributed a recommen
datory feature at once startling and dis
concerting Added to the reports turned
in earlier in the month, the aldermen
have now heard from the mayor, who
submitted his annual message published
in another column, the city attorney.
the health officer, chiefs of the police and
fire committees, and the health, finance,
printing and street committees.
Words and figures arranged in the fol-
lowing paragraphs and tables give the
story as related by the finance commit
tee:
The Finance Committee Report.
The year 1916 was remarkable for one
thing. viz, shrinkage in the city's
grand list; it being the first time this
has occurred since the organization OF the
city; the decrease in the list was CON
fined to personal property. and was
caused by the change in the statutes
relative to the taxation of this class Of
property and it had the effect of curtaiI
ing our income. A direct state tax OF
ten cents on the dollar. an extra county
tax of two cents on the dollar and the
share which the city had to pay for the
maintenance OF the county agricultural
agent combined with the increasing cost
of labor and material are largely re-
sponsible for the increase in last years
expenditures. and necessitated an in
crease in the tax rate over the amount
your previous finance committee had es-
timated would carry them through the
year. If it had not been for the issuing
Of the water notes it would have required
an addition of 20 cents to the rate in
stead of 10 as was levied to have met
the expenditures of the year and left
small balance in the treasury. The pres
ant year does not promise any relief in
his matter If the program of work to be
lone and improvements to be made. as
las been proposed, are fully carried out.
II will be necessary to raise a tax of
It least two dollars and sixty cents TO
meet our expenditures, and it is on this
L., IL
Under our estimates for streets we
lave provided the sum of $4,000 for
and $4,000 for new crush
ng plant; $4,000 is appropriated for
,aying South Main st~n~t and 5000 for
,uilding a cement r. North Main
treet from Blaclwe Net northerly
S far as the appropriate will allow;
2 $40 has been appropriated Tor build
no a cement road on Washington street
rom Spauldng street southeasterly as
ar as the appropriation will allow. A
arge share of the expense of this work
hould be paid for by the Barre & Mont
elier Traction & Power Co. under the
onditions of their franchise. and if paid
or bv them this year viii largely in
rease our income over and above our
stimates: but owing to the uncertain
naneial condition Of the company at
resent we have not included this in our
stimate of the income for the year.
Seventeen thousand one hundred dol
rs has been appropriated for the build
10 Of the proposed new bridge over jail
ranch. the repainting and repairing OF
,e other bridges in the city. and the
aintenanee of our culverts; $1,000 has
zen appropriated for resurfacing some
the maeadam roads that are now
-eatlv in need of repair; motor traffic
hich is increasing at such an abnormal
te and the increased demands from the
,blic in general for better roads i
rrelv responsible for the expenditures
hich we believe to be necessary ON our
reefs. and for which we have made pro-
sion as above stated.
Following out the policy started last
ar TO improve the water system and
ovide better fire protection throughout
Q citv il Is proposed TO complete the
ans mapped out last year and We be
We that the ultimate result will fullr
stify the expenditures made in this di
rtion. The city has already authorized
2 issue Of bonds TO carry out this work.
70 for the paving on South Main street
4 bridge construction. and the same
n be issued sometime during the wear
Supplemeuting the Improvements iu
? water system Ne have added three
ne regular men q The frc department.
lieh We believe will greatly improve
p ~erviee and place it somewhat nearrf
. standard required for = ritv of cur
q. the appropriation of Si2nne mad.