Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-02-23
THE CITY AT
WORK., BY Mr.. HASkIN
Daily Letter by Frederic j. Haskiu

know what had been done in the
past and would not listen to old
tales re-told. but that those who
made good with me would be kent
and those who cd not would he
dropped. Very few have bean
dropped. Only twice have l fourd
it necessary to so outside of the
city to find a man for a particular
job, and / did not do that until /
was satisfied hat l could find no
qualified man here in Petersburg.
| believe | have as loyal a staff OF
workers as can be found in any
business organization, and every
man Of them knows that his work
is the sole measure of his value to
me and to the city"
Thus the thing that seemed i'm
possible has been very simply done
personal and partisan and fac
tional politics nave been entirely
eliminated from the city govern-
ment. The man on the street viii
tell you that nobody has any puil
and the most prominent man in
town hasn't, so far as the admins
tration of the law and the city is
concerned.
No Organized Opposition
That does lot mean of course,
that everybody likes what is beirg
done or approves OF every policy
adopted by the city government.
SOM citizens approve n thing
and disapproye another, but at the
end of two aud d quarter years TO
organized opposition t. the city
government exists, no organization
in the city has taken an adverse
vote on any policy adopted, nearly
every organization has formally ap-
proved the main program adopted,
and there has been no meeting Of
dissenttents except group who
protested against a new assessment
for taxation which was completed
before the new government took
Office.
The new assessment, which rep
resented a considerable increase
land assessments are made in Vir-
ginia at tive-year intervals while
completed before the new govern
nlent came in. enabled the new adj
ministratlon Slightly to decrease the
tax rate. although the actual tax
collections were increased. That
means that in dollars and cents the
taxec have been Increased, but the
city now lives each year within its
income, whereas before 1t had each
year an accum ulating deficit. That
there has been So little opposition
in the face OF increased taxation
is all the more remarkable. IN
some cities, where the old govern
ment had been more business-like.
the introduction of the economies
Of the new government has per-
mitted a slight reduction in taxa
ton but generally speaking the in
rAnnnT@a IS Z nR4r 80 AIA Ia
eminent has brought about a
greater popular demand for i'm
provements and increased service,
so that the savings of the new sys-
tenn more often have been demon
strated in service than in decreased
taxation. Then, too, the movement
has had its growth during the era
of rising costs, which may have
affected the results.
The actual expenditures have not
increased in Petersburg except for
schools, where the teachers salaries
have been increased, and for debt
charges, on account of bond is
sues for permanent improvements
and the funding of the inherited de-
felt The population is SO, 900, ana
the budget. including the schools,
the bond interest, the sinking fund
and other charges that in other
states would be county charges
cities in Virginia are independent
Of counties-amounts TO $3.50, 00G.
The neighboring city OF Lynchburg
with a thousand fewer people ana
a most efficient city manager gov
lernment, has a budget of 81, 500, 00b,
Botl budgets are balanced by the
revenues and both cities live within
their incomes, but Lynchburg has
even a little lower tax rate than
Petersburg. Lynchburg is mucn
Weather and out of its current rev
snues makes many permanent inn
provements that petersburg must
finance through the sale of bones.
Virginia cities ma not, as do cities
IN all other states, but South Caro-
lima. assess any part of the cost of
Improvements against abuttins
property, and these expenses are
reflected in the tax rate.
These illustrations show how
difficult 1t Is to compare financial
statistics of city with city. even in
tho same state. In different states
under differing tax laws the task
is almost impossible, Instead Of
pursuing then the intricate subject
lof finances, tomorrow'a article wall