Palisadian., 1925-01-23
COUNTY TAXES UP
0UTRAGE0USLY IN
PAST few YEARS
Mr.. Fakes Third Article Gives
Astonishing Figures Which
Should Attract Attention.
Mr.. Editor:

Mr. EDITOR:
A friend recently said to me:
+ Everything else has gone up in price,
and l do not understand why you
stress taxation, for it has increased
only as other things have increased in
COST This statement illustrates
what great many people are think
ing and is therefore worthy of careful
consideration, so we will look into it
for a moment.
Wages, as everyone knows, plays
most prominent part in the cost of liv-
ing, and l assume that the wage rates
which have been established by or
ganized labor are the highest, which
we may reasonably take for the pur-
pose of ascertaining the percentage in
the increase of the cost of labor. Here
are some of the figures, based on
facts, not guesswork:
In 1909, fifteen years ago. carpen-
ter received As cents per hour, in 1924
$1.25 per hour, an increase of lit per
cent In 1909 a mason received 60
cents per hour, in 1924 S1.50 per hour,
an increase of $50 per cent. In 1909
plumber received so cents per hour,
in 1924 $1.25 per hour, an increase of
$50 per cent. Roofing boards went up
62a per cent, framing lumber Ga per
cent and flooring 157 per cent in the
like time. Cedar shingles went up 70
per cent and white pine and cypress
1872 per cent. AS to foodstuffs, cloth
ing, rents and the like, the reader
may refer to his accounts and make
his own comparisons, which in most
instances will aggregate an increase
considerably under 100 per cent.
We will now compare the percent
age of these wages with the percent
age of increase in the cost of our Ber-
gen county government, caused by the
expenditures of our Board of Free
holders in the like period of time. In
1909 the county rate-that is, the rate
fixed by reason of county eXpendi-
lures only-was 20 cents on each S100
of county valuations assessable. In
1924, and in face of an increase of
S186,50 900 in valuation, the county
tax rate jumped to 80 cents on each
S100 in valuations. Here we have an
increase of 210 per cent in taxation,
while the average increase in wages
and building materials above men,
toned is only 122 per cent.
Hereafter do not remain silent
when the spenders tell you that the
county taxes have only increased in
proportion to other things, for they
have increased SO per cent more than
the cost of building and other necessi-
ties of life.
From 1909 down to 1924 the assessa-
BILE valuations of this county jumped
from $93,500,O00 in round figures to
$280,000,000. Allowing an increase in
tie county AK S5iire CT ia per cent
conform with the increase in the cost
of building above mentioned would es-
tablish what l conceive to be a rea-
sonable county tax rate, taking into
account all the conditions under
which we live. This would be Ga cents
on each $100. Using this rate, then,
for example, against the valuations
for the year 1924, discloses that our
freeholders spent $753,72S.54 in ex-
cess of their logical increase. Hence
the enormous county tax rate of 80
cents under which we are now being
crushed. My friends, we have all been
sleeping on our rights.
If had any political ambitions l
would end here, but having no such
ambitions am willing to suggest rem
edies, and among them the following:
The County Police Force
For the purpose of maintaining. law
~ Inx nf "
are called upon to furnish their share
of support for the state militia and
the state police, and the latter give no
service in this county whatever. To
these are added the local police in our
various towns, the sheriff and deputy
sheriffs, the prosecutors county detec-
tives, and also numerous spies and
agents for prohibition enforcement.
To all of these our freeholders have
quite recently added the so-called
county police. There are thirteen OF
these policemen at the present time, |
each of whom will this year enjoy a |
large increase in salary through the |
generosity of our freeholders with the
taxpayers money, and to their num-
Der the majority of our freeholders |
have committed themselves to add SIX |
more during the present year. If this |
sort of thing continues we may as we'll |
maintain a standing army and have |
done with it. A careful study should !
be made as to whether or not the |
county police are absolutely necessary
in Bergen county. Personally l am
quite convinced that they are not OF
sufficient consequence to our welfare
to warrant an appropriation of $4,000
this year, or even the 100000 of last
year, and / believe this organization
should be abandoned at once in the
interest of economy.
Taxes can be reduced if the citizens
of this county organize with will to
reduce them. Voicing our complaints
on the trains and at dinner in our
homes will accomplish nothing. Let
us, therefore, get together Write me
your views on the subject.
Yours truly,
GUY L. FAKE.
Rutherford, N. ].