Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-08-10
SCHOOL WOULD
BOOST CITY TAX
So Says Acting Mayor Wester
in Hall Avenue Building
Controversy
Alderman-at-Large

Alutl &c JOIH N.
WeSter in commenting upon the ac-
tion taken by the Board of School
Estimate-of which he is a mem
ber-Monday afternoon in passing a
resolution confirming the appropria-
tion of $4,000 for the purpose of
making an addition to the high
school, today said that an increase
in taxes of fifty per cent. would have
resulted if that body had decided to
go ahead at this time with the new
Hall avenue school project together
with the high school addition.
Mr.. Wester, who is acting mayor
during the absence of Mayor Wilson
who is on his vacation, declared that
the aldermanic members of the
Board of School Estimate have fav-
ored the high school addition since
the first of the year but the school
board members had taken the stand
that they wanted both the high
school addition and the new Hall
avenue school and were not willing
to take one without the other. Con-
sequent1y deadlock between the
two board members had resulted.
The city budget usually runs about
s1,000,000, Alderman-at-L Wes"
ter states and if it was decided to
put through both school projects at
once allowance would have to be
made in next years budget for the
money to pay for this work and this
would mean an increase of about
fifty per cent in the citv's taxes as
the money would have 20 be raised
by direct taxation, the city's debt be-
ing such at present that bond issue
for the amount involved could not be
made.
The plans and specifications for
the high school addition have al
read been prepared, Mr.. Wester
points out, so that no time will be
lost In receiving bids for the work.
The financing of this work can be
dune py using the $4,000 which will
he available this year and the re-
naming $4,000 which can be secur-
ed on or after January /, Of next
year. 1t has been estimated that
TIE addition will cost $4,000.
The meeting Monday afternoon,
although it was said &c have been
an "informar' meeting by Secretary
Alfred II. Crowell of the school esti-
mate board was a legal one Mr..
Weston declares. and consequently
the res 'lution passe'' unanimously
by those present approving the $780,
600 appropriation for the high school
addition is final. John x. Shechy,
presiden. ci the school beard, who is
away Gn his vacation was not pres
enI st the meeting which was orig
inally scheduled for last Saturday.
When Mondays meeting was
opened. Mr.. Wester said all of the
members present announced their
willingness of waving the necessary
notice and following roll call a
regular session was held. The Board
of Education can now go ahead
advertising for bids, the alderman
at-large states. AS the school board
met last Thursday it is likely that
special meeting of that body will be
called for the purpose of speeding
up the new addition.
The new school in Hall avenue
will cost approximately 100000
about one-half of the entire city
budget. the alderman-at-large said,
and the aldermanic members of the
school estimate board have no OBJ
lection to placing this question on
the ballot. making it a referendum.
1t might be possible, he said, to issue
bonds to the amount of $225.000
next year and the remainder in 1928,
thus making it less of a burden on
the taxpayers than if it was entered
in the budget in a lump sum with
the resulting fifty per cent. increase
in tax by direct taxation. The con-
dition OF the city's finances will
decide just what amounts can be
appropriated.
Alderman Wester explained that
the resolutions passed by the school
estimate board several months ago
authorizing both projects had made
it mandatory upon the aldermen to
finance the two buildings, but an
opinion from the city attorney point
ing out this fact failed to reach them
before they had voted upon the
question. Another meeting was then
held resembling the action already
taken.
According to Alderman Wester
the Board of School Estimate is only
too willing to give the city more
schools. but their actions must be
governed by the finances of the city,
and at present thev will not permit
of the new school being built unless