The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-06
$444444 900 Bond Issue
For Schools Voted By
Board of Aldermen
Acting Supt Cortright's Plan Agreed Upon by
Both Boards-President Veness introduced
Bond Issue Resolution.

special tax levy to take care of the
unemployment situation is 27.3 mills.
a decrease Of 1.6 mills.
am very hopeful that the indus
trial situation will be such that it
will be unnecessary to resort to fur
Their special assessm tents for the care
of our unemployed, and If this be-
comes so and a strict economy con-
tinues to be forced, have every hope
that the next fiscal year will see a
more substantial reduction in expen-
ditures and consequently tax rate.
A reduction in tax rate next year
is my aim, but this may be impeded
by the fact that the Grand List of
the city has shown evidence Of pos
sible shrinkage, due largely to the
effect of the business depression of
our industries and the great decrease
in building activities. Notwithstand-
ing this, I firmly believe that con-
tinuation of retrenchment will pro-
duce, the desired results.
Fiscal Management.
The total appropriation made by
the Board of Apportionme and
Taxation for the fiscal year ending
March 81, 1922, were s9,034, Al:
The total appropriations made for
the current year are $7y714,050.76, a
every department has Tents its CO.
operation to a concerted effort to re-
duce the cost of conducting the city,
affairs, and each of them evidences
a substantial saving in this direction.
my curtatlment of efficiency. In some
cases some of the departments not
withstanding the decreases in the cost
of operation, are functioning l be-
lieve, more efficiently and more fully
than previously
City Accounting
have expressed the conviction
that the system Of departmental ao-
counting. as it has been practiced in
our city government. Ne now enItIety
inadequate. 1t is now, ! believe,
fully demonstrated that there should
be careful intelligent revision in the
methods, according to which expen-
dttures are made and accounts kept.
1 can see no reason why each of the
city departments should not con-
form to a Uniform system in this re-
spect, and the Cfty's financial affairs
be handled in the same manner as
they would be in a carefully con-
Quoted private enterprise had
hoped that an appropriation would
be made to supply funds so that this
work could be undertaken immedi-
ately. I feel that we should insist
that such a system be placed in eff
feet to commence with the next Hs-
cal yeax In order to insure this, 4
hope to outline to your Honorable
body, at a later date, a proposal pro
viding for an adequate survey, so phat
details may be worked out that the
city may apply to the next session of
the Connecticut Legislature for such
charter provisions as may be neces-
sapy to give full and substantial eff
feet to such plans as may be evolved.
In this L am sure your honorable
body will give its full cooperation.
Schools and Education.
One of the most acute conditions
which the city faces is that provid-
ing adequate school facilities for its
increasing Juvenile population. APP
proximately HOO pupils fitted for en-
trance to high school in excess or Lne
present facilities, must be provided
for in September of this year. Varf-
Gus sections of the city, notably the
extreme northerly portion and some
sections of thes East Side, are with
out proper grade school facilities. 1t
was considered that temporary relief
might be had, pending the period re-
Quired for the construction of new
buildings, by taking over available
building space and reconstructing the
ever, negatived this plan and now we
must exert ourselves with the utmost
promptness at the earliest possible
dates. At this time, the Board OF
Education is preparing definite plan
which / have no doubt will be sub
mitted without delay, and your hon
orable body will be asked to PROVIDE
b opds to carry out such provisions.
fronts us in this respect is one that
calls for the utmost cooperation, and
this I am sure you will lend.
Police Department
I believe Bridgeport has the most
efficient police department in this
section of the country. The prompt
and efficient manner in which it
hnadled the recent emergency, when
q robbery was committed in the bus
mess section of the city, effecting the
capture of all of the principles and
the recovery of the stolen money,
with great promptitude, IS an indi-
cation Of the value of its personnel
and its Intelligent management.
Without any curtailment of the re-
quisite expense of this department
the appropriation made for the cur
rent year, as compared with that
of the last fiscal year. indicates a
81 100000, in the cost of conduct
ing it without any decreases in wages.
I have hopes that further care
full revision may net a still greater
saving for the next fiscal year.
Fire Department
A comparison of the appropriation
made to this department for the cur
rent fiscal year, as compared with
able saving in cost of operation for
the year, of approximately S97, 1890
without affecting the efficiency of
the department in any way or the
department as of the Police that I
believe 1t to be the most efficient fire
department. in this section of the
and this belief is fully sub
stantiated by the low fire loss even
though our hard is great in the
shape Of the large number of in
building in the center of
our city.
am pleased to note the harmony
existing in these departments between
officers and privates. This
goes a long way toward the efficiency
and excellent work demonstrated
Municipal Garage.
a comparison of the appropriations
made to this department for the cur
rent fiscal year, with those of the
last fiscal year. including transfers
from unexpected revenues, indicates
a probable saving in the cost of OPP
grafton of approximately $50. 100000.
An ordinance has been adopted
providing for the strictest possible su-
pervision of every detail of the work
coiducted there, and the ALLEGATION
to the vaFious departments of the
cost of maintenance, repairs and sup
plies of cars to each of them. This
will have the effect of making the
garage eelf-supportine as the ex-
penses will be charged to the de-
partment having the work done ms was
the case when private garages were
used Data being compiled this year
VIII form 4 basis for a plan which
will demonstrate the se1f-Eupport1n8