Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1919-01-10
MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET ADOPTED
BY FREEH0LDERS; INCREASE OF
EIGHT POINTS IN COUNTY TAX RATE
Total Budget of $1,091,942
Shows Increase of $191,543
Over Last Year
By Special Correspondent.

NEW BRUNSWICK, Jan. 10-The
Board of Freeholders yesterday adopt
ed the budget for the county for the
fiscal year of 1919. The total of the
budget is s1.091,942.71 an increase
over the 1918 budget of $191, ,543.27.
The increase in the county tax rate
will be about eight points. 1t is
roughly estimated that the rate for
1919 will be seventy-one or seventy
two cents per hundred dollars while
for 1918 it was siXty-three cents per
hundred
Summed up briefly, the main causes
for the large increase are: An addi-
tion to the tuberculosis needs account
of $40. 1000; increased interest on bond
ed debt of $4,000 bridge repairs, an
increase of $4,000; contract obliga-
tions on roads, increased $4,000;
road appropriation Increased $50,
increases in court sheriff, surrogate,
warden and county clerk items; def
ciencies in the 1917 and 1918 election
accounts of $4,000: and emergency
borrowings in 1918 required that $37.-
507 be appropriated In this years bud
get.
County Solicitor F. f. Richardson
explained the reasons for the increase
In the following statement:
"The so-called Pierson Act, p. L.
1918, Chapter 242, amending the orig
:
makes 1t mandatory for each county
and municipality to create a budget.
This burget is to represent the fiscal
policy of the county for the ensuing
year and must, after due advertise
ment and public hearing afforded, be
adopted not later than February 9Th.
as regards counties. When adopted
it serves as a sort of contract between
the county officers and the taxpayers.
To interest the taxpayers into their
municipal affairs q public hearing
must precede the adoption at which
the taxpayers may acquaint them
selves with the proposed expenditures
and generally familiarize themselves
with the proposed scheme of financing
the ensuing year. Only small chang
es Uess than per cent of the total
appropriately can be made subse-
quent to the adoption. This may be
done by tax resolution before March
1st After March 1st the counfys
program is definitely settled and the
appropriations are not to be exceed
ed unless for the payment of interest
. or principal on debt or unless to FUND
emergencies. over this entire sys-
tenn runs the supervising hand of the
commissioner of municipal accounts
at Trenton also the creation of the
Pierson act The benefits of this
system are i'm brief:
"Giving taxpayers q voice In the
budget and obtaining their active in
terest In municipal affairs.
"Imposing a sound financial system
on counties and establishing a uni
form system in each.
"ProvidIng for the amortization of
present Indebtedness by proper sink
ing fund requirements
Control over entire financial sys-
tenn by state department Under the
new tax act C91S) the county will re-
ceive one half OF its taxes i'm June in
stead OF waiting until the end of the
year. The county mn to June 18th has
a borrowing capacity of so per cent.
OF the amount 10 be raised by taxes
less certain items and a borrowing
power OF funds collected after June
18th up to 100 per cent until the be-
ginning of the new fiscal year by
which law now rms I'm all counties
from January 1st TO January first fol-
lowing. Financial needs are financed
throueh tax anticipation. notes and
tax revenue notes or bonds. Certain
other general provisions such as find
ing emergency notes when tHev in
crease the tax rate over one-third OF
n'ti on tho dollar and etc. also are
nroyfdNd for
"Such generally. hastily and rough
lv faniIia rizes us with some or the
more imror4ant Pierson law renuire-
ments. which NAV help our considera-
tior of our BUDGET
'.srbe BUDGET for 1919 herewith sub
miffea IS Of necessity larger than pre-
cedine Years. A rough survey will
show why
'"ruhe~crios's peads have so in
(Continued on mage ~