The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-28
Increases In Salaries In Many City Departments Account for One Mill of Assessment for 1916 - Commissioners Slash Acquisitions.
Charities, Health and Public Works Budgets Cut Y Elm Street Extension Appropria- ton Cut From List-Recrea-
 ton Board Gets $7, ,OOO.

Bridgeport's tax rate is to be 20.7 mills.
 This permanent rate was fixed yes terday by the board of apportionment and taxation after the pruning knlfe had been yielded promiscuolisly on the appropriations asked for the health. charities and public works de- partments,
 ! ' Ths nnal grand list is fixed at $751; 4s0, ,02S.
 This eamount of course is the total grand list for the First district. The final total appropriation charged against this district is $1,814,679.S9. The estimated total receipts are $34l,- 45297, leaving the amount to be rals- ed by taxation $1,473,226.42. A tax rate of S.S mills in this district will give $1,473,912.26 and this amount Hives a. surplus aofe $685.84. T In the second district the final grand list is $166,636,059. The final appropriations for this district are $2.O47,247.61. The estimated total re- ceipts will be $86,50O, leaving $1,97O,- 747.61 astthe amount to be raised by taxation A tax rate of 11.9 mills III this district will give $1s982,969.lO' which leaves surplus of $22, 2,22l. 49. J < The rate last year was 19.g mills On a final grand list of $139 ,1O9, 396.
 After the meeting members of the board congratulated each other on having gotten the rate so low. Several of the members pointed out that que to increases in salaries of policemen, firemen and public school teachers, the expenses of these departments have so increased as to call for at least another mill increase in the tax rate They were pleased that the final rate ' is an increase of only S-1O of a mill over that of last year.
 Everything that could be considered as Of a permanent nature was put aside to be provided for by bonds. To retire or pay interest charges on some of the bond issues already made the, board appropriated $69,000 in the First district and $255,0O0 in the Second district.
 The rate was figured so close as to leave a total surplus of only $12,-i 9O7.38 after all the appropriations were provided for. President Will liam E. Seeley did not consider this surplns sufficient so he had the mem bers strike out $10,0O0 appropria- ton for Elm street extension which raises the surplus that much moret n Commissioner William B. Burnham carried out his plan to slash the health department appr propriation, re- dl1cing the number of sanitary in- spectors. school nurses and other at gtaches which the department employs 7 and cutting the appropriation in other items.
 Commissioner sigmund Loewith yielded his pruning knife on the char ities department requisition, reducing appropriations in that department by several thousand dollars At the meeting to fix the preliminary rate he had argued for an item of $500 for an extra clerk for the city treasurer. The members allowed only $S50 but on motion of MT. Loewith yesterday they granted the $500 asked.
 g The board also gave an appropria- ton of $500 to the dog warden to ad-i vertise stray dogs MT. Loewith said a number of valuable dogs wearing Identification tags are taken up and killed by, the dog warden without no- tive to their owners.
 Rev. John R. Brown, chairman of the Recreatio1feeFn mission, asked for 9l0, 900 to carry out the plans of the commission. Theb oard voted $7,000.
 The board provided for IS new men in the fire department from April l this year and also for tho three Fe- ! gently appointed. and for the salary ] of an assistant clerk. Provision was made for an increase of IS men in the police department. Provisions were also made orsincreases in salary sby grades in botfla Apartments.
 A deficiency ofs6 ,90s.51 in the charities department. was provided for and increases in the salaries of two days surgeons at the emergency hospital from S1,s0o to $2.4oo and one night surgeon. s1.1oo to $1.35o 1 were allowed. The knife was used on other items.
 ] Tn the Hilisids home account the item of $10,000 for groceries, bread, setc., was cut to $s,O00; meats and fish i from $8,00o to s7,00o; hay. oats and feed item from $5,o00 to $4.0Oo. Ac- count for care of poor patients al ] Bridgeport and St. vineent's hospitals was sliced from $20.000 to $1s,000; { care of insane from s25,oo0 to $z3,- ' 500: care of epileptics and incurab1es
 from $2,400 to $1.S00. Numerous other reductions in appropriations amounting in all te $6,700. were also made. 9g
 Commissioner Daniel J. Clifford, o1
 the subcommittee on city court ac. count, had reported a reduction ir
 salary of clerk of city court from $2,- GOO to $1,SO6, and assistant from S1,-
 200 to $90o He reported yesterda, ] that these salaries were being hxes ] by charter amendment now pendins 1 before the General Assembly and the ] hoard could do nothing but fecom' ]. mend them.
 The City Plan Commission was
 given only $7s1.o4 which was it's de 2 flcit for last year.
 The fire department account came
 in for a little more trimming thar
 was given at the preliminary meeting
 Hay, oats and straw account was cut
 from $4,00O to $2,000; wagon and l truck repairs from $1,sa8 to $1,5e0i
 hose renewals frem $10,060 to S9,006
 and shop repairs from $1,500 to $500
 In the public works department the
 street cleaning account was cut from
 S148.40O to $110,000. The macadan
 repairs account was cut from $70,60e
 to $45, ,0OA; sidewalk, curb and gutter
 repairs, from ss.0e0 te $6,00o; cross
 walk repairs from s1. .586 to s7e0. The
 general street grading appropriation
 was reduced from $50,000 to 20,000