The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-01-30
CITY AUDITOR'S
 ANNUAL REP0R r

Gentlemen:- Once again it becomes our duty to provide for the wants of the City, for another fiscal year, that of 191S-1919, and after looking over the acquisitions we are reminded that no matter how great may be the increase in our Grand List, the City's requirements increase still faster and if we are~to provide for the latter even fairly well, there can be no reduction from the tax rate of last year. This condition is not surprising when we look around us and note the City's rapid develop | ment and growth, and the numerous i demands made on the City's resources, i norder to keep pace with such | growth and progress. We find our selves obliged to limit the provisions made to the more pressing and inn | portant needs, leaving those less i'm portant, or less meritorius to be pro- vided for later when means will per nit And, as opinions vary as to what constitute the more important or meritorius things, there will be, un- avoidably, some disappointment and fault finding. But we ought to bear in mind that if the demands upon us were fully granted the tax rate would be, not only burdensome, but, in fact, unbearable. From present indications, I judge that only about 94 per cent. of the taxes levied in February, 1917, will be collected within the fiscal year 1917-1918. This will leave uncollect- ed, at close of year about S200, ,00O.O0 TNt payers demands that the slackers should be made to respond at once, in order to avoid a large deficit in our estimated tax receipts. Those who can pay, but will not should be per suaded to pay, by legal measures if necessary. Those who are not able to pay ought to be treated leniently.
 Increasing Expenses.
 This year, for the first time, we are called oh to provide for expenses in cident to equipping~and maintaining public welfare building and a public clinic. This first year will, undoubt- edly, be the most expensive one, as the entire cost of equipping the build ing for the use of several depart ments, in addition to the cost of main- tenance, will have to be provided for, in our next annual budget. The avails of bond issues for this public clinic, are barely sufficient to defray the cost of purchasing land and erecting build ing. As the public clinic is an entirely new department here the cost of operating it cannot be accurately de- termined in advance, but reliance can safely be placed in the good judgment and discretion of the physicians in charge, who have made a careful study of the entire matter, based on the experience of other cities, for sim liar work.
 Health Department.
 The Health Department requests that an appropriation be made for extending the system of medical in spection and dental treatment of chil- dren in the public schools, so as tc embrace the children of the parochial school too, at an estimated expense Ot $12,735.0O. If such inspection and treatment, as applied in the public schools, have been beneficial, both tC the children and the public, as I think they have been, then the interests o1 public health demands the medica supervision, including dental treat ment, if required, of all school chil dren, wherever they attend school, a in no other way can public health b' thoroughly safeguarded. It seems al most superfluous to state that publl health may be endangered, by wan of medical supervision of the 6,OO children who attend private and paro e chial schools, proportionately as mucl as it would be by the want of sucl medical attention to the 10000 chil dren attending public schools.
 Recreation Commission.
 This Commission asks that $27 10000 be appropriated for it's activi ties during the year. If this depart ment is to be operated and maintain ed on the scale mapped out an planned this sum will be needed. think that the plans should be give a. thorough trial. The enterprise ha proved successful elsewhere and is n longer looked on as an eXperimen There may be some question as the wisdom, at this time, of going il ,- to it, on so extensive and expensive N scale.
 New Voting Booths.
 The Building Inspector has r, uuested that an appropriation be mao to provide fifteen new voting booth at a cost of $150.00 each or $2,250.( in all.
 The advantages of City ownersh of election booths are manifest. TT booths would be made in interchang able sections and could bt put t gether and placed in the most col venient localities, on street or sid walk, if necessary, for the use of u voters, in the several districts. Wht not in use they could be taken apa and readily stored in the City Tar Now the City is obliged to rent votil places on the owners terms, and som times in the most inconvenie places.
 War Bureau.
 This is another new demand on t City's funds due to war exigenci The requisition is for S13,000.00.
 The gentlemen in charge of bureau are public spirited and I triotic They have already devot and are willing hereafter to devote considerable portion of their valua1 time, to various war activities, whi are to be co-ordinated under t
 head.
 We can trust them to expend 1 money at their disposal judiciou
 and for the public good. Let
 earnestly hope and pray that WI
 appreciating at their true worth,
 valubale services to be rendered
 this bureau the need for it's existel
 T.,