The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-01-30
County Budget Adopted, Largest
Ever.

Ever.
Perhaps the thing of greatest mo-
ment to the citizens of this county is
the County Budget. Yet when the
Board of Freeholders in their meeting
met to consider it not ten citizens
were sufficiently interested to attend
the hearing and learn anything about
it. There may be reasons why the
average citizen does not take a great
er interest in public matters of this
kind, but it is strange state of
affairs when the taxes are so high
that the proposal to raise 1928, 1882. rs
for the ensuing year does not bring
out at least few of the larger tax
payers who must pay considerable
portion of the budget in taxes.
The only item in the budget, which
shows any material decrease over that
of 1919, is that of Court, which is
$4,000 less than heretofore, the courts
having cost less than the amount APP
propriated last year and are expected
to cost still less this year. Other de-
creases aggregate $2,400, while the
items of increase aggregate $31 ,902.50
which, with floating Indebtedness of
$42 900, accounts for the total in
crease of SGT, 402.50.
The largest items of increase are in
the Bridge account $4,000, Macadam
road repair SIP, GOO and SO 1000 in each
of the County Buildings and Elec-
tons accounts.
The budget makes no provision for
the construction of new stone roads in
1920, so no new macadam roads can
expected during the ensuing year.
This will be quite disappointing to
several communities, since a number
of new roads had been surveyed and
were confidently expected
The law limits the amount that the
Freeholders may raise by taxation to
a percentage of the total of the coun-
ty ratables and that limit is already
reached, without any taxation for new
roads.
Harry L. Stout, attorney of the
Board of Freeholders, had notified the
County Board of Taxation to be pre-
sent and called this Boards attention
to the fact that the limit of taxation
is reached upon the present ratables
and suggested that the Board give
consideration to the general increase
of assessments throughout the county.
Mr.. Stout stated that there are numer-
Gus instances where personal property
escapes taxation and mentioned one
case where a farmers herd of cattle
alone is worth many times more than
his personal property assessment. He
also stated that there are numerous
industries in the county that might
bear a greater valuation.
Members of the Tax Board stated
that they had not previously been in
formed that the Freeholders were con-
fronted with any problems in relation
to taxation and indicated that they
would give the matter of a general
increase in assessments their careful
consideration.
There are members of former
Boards of Freeholders who will recall
time when the entire county budget
was not $4,000, whereas the budget
for this year shows an increase OF
sec, 402 over 1919. A floating indebt-
edness of $4,000 would have worried
even the most complacent member OF
previous boards, to say nothing of
bonded debt of $479,000.
Of course, if there are any inequali-
ties in the matter of assessments, 1t is
the duty of the Tax Board to correct
them, but to make general increase
in all assessments will scarcely help
the individual taxpayer Theoretl-
cally, if all assassments'a higher the
rate will be lower, but it really makes
very little difference to the taxpayer
whether he pays high rate on low
assessment or low rate on ahlgh
assessment, the result to him is the
same. 1t is true that higher assess
ment throughout the county will IN
crease the spending powers of the
Board of Freeholders and make it pos
sible to appropriate more money, but
in view of general conditions, is it moi
just as we'll not to spend too much
money. but rather hold the ratable:
where they are, and thus limit expen
ditures?
Exchange