Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-08-24
FOR TAXPAYERS TO CONSIDER

1t is an Illuminating comparison that former
Governor Stokes makes regarding tax rates in
New Jersey. Taxpayers would do well to study
the figures as published in the NEWS
yesterday before making up their minds how
they will vote this fall.
Comparisons for eleven cities are given. All
Of them show a startling increase in tax rates.
Two of the cities cited are in Middlesex county.
They are Perth Amboy and New Brunswick.
Take Perth Amboy, for instance. In 1915
there was no state road tax to pay. In 1920 this
city paid 1926 in taxes for the construction
OF the state highway system.
In 1915 Perth Amboy paid a state school tax
amounting to $57,439. Today this state school
tax has grown to $S1,352.
The county tax which Perth Amboy paid in
1915 amounted to $119,177. In 1920 this had
grown to $271, 207, more than double what 1t
was five years before. And the rate is still
higher this year.
For local tax Perth Amboy raised ~$412.013.
In 1920 the local tax had reached the enormous
total of 1,019 ,040. And 1t is still climbing.
The tax rate for Perth Amboy in 1915 was
$3.50 on the 500 valuation. In 1920 the tax
rate had Jumped to s4.30 for every 800 Of as
sessed valuation.
INSW ID o"h hHO
for which comparisons are given, shows about
the same proportion of increase, although new
Brunswick does not have to raise as much money
for any of the taxes mentioned as does Perth
Amboy. Whereas Perth Amboy in 1920 paid
s271, POT toward the county expenses, New
Brunswick paid 21a,215. For local purposes
New Brunswick raised through taxation in 1871
the sum of $74O,3S1 while Perth Amboy raised
INT IIo o., local avnapsaG
The whole table shows to what excuses we
have gone in the way of public expense. 1t Is
time for a strict accounting. The people demand
a reduction all along the line. This can be
done without destroying efficiency If the right
kind of economy is used. But to bring about
the right kind of economy the right kind OF
men must be elected to office.
Take the freeholders, for instance. In spite
Of this awful increase IN the amount of money
being. yaised for county expenses, the county
board goes ahead handing out fat contracts Tor
the benefit of patent pavement interests regard
less of the burden being placed on the people
Numerous contracts have been let this year Tor
roads calling for the bituminous top DRESSING
In spite of the fact that this top dressing, con-
trolled by patent paving interests, costs nearly
as much as the whole of the concrete foundation
which is three times as thick, and In spite Oh
the fact that a top dressing of cement could be
placed on the road at a much reduced price and
Which would give as good If not better ~satisfac-
ton.
The New Brunswick Times is doing an excellent
work in bringing to light the tremendous auto
mobile bill that the county run up during the
month of July as shown by the report of the
county treasurer. For automobile hire the av'
erage was $50 a day. The various county de-
partments have been busy denying that they
are to blame for the EXPENSE; no one seems &c
want to shoulder the responsibility. The FACT
remains, however, that the taxpayers OF the
county have had to pay the bills.
The people ought to have an understanding
about these patent pavement contracts and auto
mobiles before they vote for freeholders this fall
The same thing applies to the state. Among