Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-12-19
CITY BUDGET APPROVED; HEARING ON DEC. 29;
GENERAL DEMANDS MADE ON COUNTY BUDGET
Sheriff Issues Statement in
Answer to Freeholders in
Controversy on Budget

NEW BRUNSWICK, Dec. 10
Sheriff Elmer c. Wyckoff today is
sued a statement defending his re-
quest for $43.000 to pay the cost OF
operating his office, the county jail
and court officers fc-, 1928. 1t be-
came known yesterday that the free
holders would request the sheriff to
appear before them at a meeting to
be held prior to Thursday after
moons budget meeting for the pur-
pose of questioning him on the in
crease asked ever last year.
Sheriff Wyckoff toGay declares it
seems peculiar that his office is al
ways the one singled out whenever
the question of expenses arises. This
constant selection OF his office, to
be used as ''the goat" he says,
creates a false impression.
1t seems peculiar that the free
holders want another conference
with him when they already have
had three this year, Sheriff Wyckoff
says, but he is willing to confer with
them at any time being sure that he
can produce facts and figures show
ing that he is asking for only the
amount needed by his office to ef-
ficiently carry on it's work.
With reference to the $4,000 ap-
propriation to the sheriff's office in
Mercer county, Sheriff Wyckoff
said, that amount covers the actual
expenses of the sheriff's office only
and does not include the county jail
expenses and the additional expense
of court officers which are included
in Middlesex county under the head
Ing "sheriff's office"
= Sheriff Wyckoff says he has asked
the freeho- .ers to make his appro-
priation separate from that or the
county Jail and court officers pat
they have refused to do SO. 1T
such wa. done, he said, it would be
impossible for the freeholders to
point out Mercer county as an ex-
ample of efficiency as far as the
sheriff's Off is concerned. Sal
aries fixed by law amount to $4,000
alone, the sheriff says, and the re-
naming $4,000 cover expenses
which must be met in order to carry
on the work of the office in IN eff
cient MAJ n.
According to Sheriff Wyckoff his
office does a business of approx
mately one quarter of a million dol
lars annually but the net revenue 70
the county is only from $4,000 to
$4,000, this amount being entirely
I from his office as there are no reve
4nues from the county jail or court
officers despite the fact that both or
these are included under the term
..sheriff's office" when the appropri- j.
alton is awarded by the freehoiders.
The sheriff has suggested maxim
the appropriations for the sheriff :
office, the county Jail and court Off
GERS expenses separate items, ne
saws. and he will continue to make
such suggestions as the present
method is misleading the public in
to thinking his Office alone Is re-
sponsible for the expenditure Of the
full $4,000.
The freeholders are now working
ON their 1923 budget figures, which
thew hope to have completed by
,rhursday afternoon. One of the
largest items in the budget is
$236,o00 worth of bonds and notes
which must be retired next year.
Efforts are being made by the
county board members to prevent
the 1928 tax rate being higher
than the present rate, but certain
items must be increased, 1t is
claimed, the freeholders having no
alternative.
The appropriation for. courts must
be increased, the salaries oedng
fixed by law. An increase OF $8,OOO
ynust be made in the appropria-
tion to care for tuberculosis pa
tieuts. this years appropriation for
This being $4,000 as compared to
S83,0o0 in 1923. All of the hospi-
tails In the county have asked for
increases, and realizing the work
done by these institutions the board
viii endeayor to comply with their