Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-12-27
THE COUNTY BUDGET.

In view of the great number of deficits that
have to be made up for the past year in the new
county budget it is reasonable to expect an in
crease in the appropriations for the various
county departments for the coming year. There
are so many expenditures, however. of which
the people are entirely ignorant and for the
proper handling of which the people have 10
trust absolutely in the judgment of the men
they choose for freeholders that it Is difficult to
Judge properly any budget that the county
officials may present.
We are informed that the county expects to
make a substantial reduction in the tax rate
this coming year. That. after all, is what
counts most with the people. But with falling
prices and labor more plentiful the people have
a right to expect a general reduction in prices
all along the line.
With the increased appropriation from the
state for county road work and with the state
taking over and maintaining several of the most
expensive roads as we'll as the Amboy bridge,
there is every reason in the world why there
should be a general reduction in the highway
and bridge appropriation or else there should be
u wonderful improvement in the county roads
generally.
A scarcity of labor and inability to secure ma
terial can no longer be given as an excuse for
failure to put the county roads in good shape.
With the state caring for the main highway
leading across the county from Railway through
Woodbridge, the Amboys to Morgan, and also
the main highway leading from Railway
through Colonia, Metuchen to New Brunswick,
as well as the two main highways leading out of
New Brunswick southwark. one through Gran
bury and the other through Kingston to Prince
ton, both running the full length of the county,
the county has. indeed, been relieved of a ire
mendous burden. The thousands of dollars
that were formerly spent on these highways can
now be diverted TO other strictly count roads.
On the other hand there has been substantial
increase in the other expenses of the county
over which the Board of Freeholders have no
control. The elections make up the biggest in
crease. This is due to the doubling of the
electorate. Because of the enormous expense
of holding the elections under present con-
ditions it would seem as if more modern
methods should be devised for conducting cleo
tons in the future.
The increase in the cost Of maintaining tuber-
culosis patients Will make it necessary for the
county to build it's own sanitarium as soon as
the cost of building operations is within reason.
1t is to be regretted that the freeholders are
to reduce the appropriation for mosquito eX-
termination. The commission in charge Of this
work has accomplished a great deal. Old resi-
dents will agree that mosquitoes, while they are
still with us in summer, are not nearly as
bothersome as they used to be. If the mo-
squito determination commission was given a
fair chance to really tackle the pest as it should
be tackled there is good reason to believe that
the mosquito in this section would become
practically extinct. But the drainage must be
kept open and the work already done mus, be
maintained as well as additional work accom-
plished. This cannot be done With a cutting
down of the Appropriation.
But the budget making is entirely in the
hands of the county officials. They fully realize
The ability Of the people to pay and upon them
the responsibility rests. 4 reduction In the tax
rate will be gratefully received. In fact, the
people are justified In expecting it.