New Britain herald., 1920-02-06
TAXPAYERS WANT
 l9 MILL TAX RATE High Enough, Simons Says, With
 Proper Factory Assessment PLANS HEAVY INCREASE
Treasurer of Organization Believes 50 Per Cent Boost Is Not Too Much for Manufacturing Interests Here Campaign Successful Last Year.

Campaign Successful Last Year. New Britain Taxpayers association, discussed the proposed tax rate for the coming year, in an interview to- day. and outlined plans of his or ganization which, if accepted and pushed through by the voters. will not only keep the tax rate from rising higher than the 21 mill point, but will result in a decrease for individual property holders Asked how low it would be possible to bring the rate this year, the spokesman of the Tax payers association said he felt 19 mills might be enough to carry the city.
 Coming at time when city fathers are taxing their brains to see how it will be possible to keep the city from bankruptcy without going over the 30 mill mark. MT. SimonS' statement is received with more than usual in terest. One of the prominent menl- bers of the comon council, a member of the finance and taxation comittee. is quoted as having said 2S to 30 mills would be the logical rate in view of the increased estimates of the city departm ents,t necessitated. in the main, by boosts in salaries. The statement issued today in support of a 19 mill rate challenge the support CTS of a higher rate to prove it's need, it :s stated. -.
 Factory Valuation Low.
 When asked how it would be pos sible to run the city on a, 19 mill rate, MT. smons explained that his sur vey ahd the survey of those in his employ has proven, in his mind, that the assessors have placed a valuation far too low on the factories. In pro- portion to the common taxpayer, the factories. he said, have received but a small boost. He favors an increase in assessment of at least 50 per cent and through the funds thus acquired he has no fears for the city's financial standing. He has little fault to find with the assessments levied on tax payers in general and feels that many of the boosts are justified in view of existing conditions. It Is his ex- pressed belief. however, that the fac tories should be made to stand a greater part of the burden than is now imposed upon them. Boosts of from $1.ooo to $2,o00 have been made on practically every property owner in the city, he said, and the factory assessm ents should be worked up proportionately. he believes.
 Drive Effective Last Year.
 Simons' statements today are the first of the 1920 campaign of the New Britain Taxpayers association, a continuance of the drive carried through last year. The association was the organization responsible for the adoption of a q mill tax rate as opposed to the 25 mill rate first proposed. So strong was the agitation against the 25 mill rate that the issue was threshed out at the polls with the result that the 21 mill tax rate was adopted by an enor- nous majority. Cuts Tn department budgets were immediately put into ef- feet and several proposed activities in the line of municipal improvement were indefinitely, postponed.
 Whether this years campaign is to be as ardent a drive as last year s remains to be seen, but statements from Treasurer Sim ons and Chairman Patrick s. McMahon indicate that the budget will be thoroughly gone over as will the proposed salary increases, scheduled to come up before a special session of the common council next Wednesday evening.
 MT. Simons is busily preparing fig ures to be used in the association s fight for increased assessment of fac tories and the continuance of a low tax rate.