New Britain herald., 1927-02-08
INCREASING THE CITY
 TAX RATE,

TAX RATE
 The noble pastime of Keeping down the city tax rate" has gone into the discard, at least temporarily. Reducing the budgets of the various city departments used to be the ef- fective method of Keeping down the rate;' but now even that no longer suffices. Hence, instead of be- ing content with a rate of 234 mills, we now become acquainted with 2514 mills.
 strict economy" as President Cool idge is popularly reputed to be. Mayor Weld admitted the city de- partments must have sufficient money with which to function properly. This was not saying they obtained as much as they wanted but merely enough to meet their requirements. Most departments, however, need more money every year. They don't get as much as they think they require, but the figures show an increase all the same. What can the budget slashers, the ''pruners," do about it but reluctant ly concede some few points? Moth ing; the departments must have enough to function, as the mayor says.
 The departments gradually get what they need even if it requires effort and patience. It takes years. sometimes, but they keep right at it. For instance, the police depart tnent needs 15 new policemen-has been needing them for years. It doesn't get the 15 but it gets some new ones ever and anon.
 The flre department needs more equlpment-plenty of it, in truth. It requires, besides, this and that and new fire station in the West End. The finish-this year-of the grand wish is that the department does not get all it thinks it needs; but it gets something. The new West End sta tion Is coming some day, but not just yet No harm in placing it in the budget every year until at some pro- pitious occasion pruning commit tee forgets to prune it out. Then the station will be built, in 1892 or whereabouts. That's how we progress. It pays to be born optmist
 Then there is the board of public works, the perennial goat when the pruning is done. This organization each year heartily believes in paving all the streets citizens have com plained about. Let the board have all the money it needs" some year and every defunct pavement in town speedily would take on the appear ance Of a boulevard and there would be absolutely no need for further complaint, except perhaps how the pavements were put down. But the finance board and the mayor are wary about this public works busi- ness. If there is one department where s10,000 makes a noise like a plugged nickel falling into a collection plate fl is in this de- partment. It deals in ciphers and plenty of them. Hence the wal lop given this department when the weight reduction starts is usually startling. What we'd like to know, though, is this: Does this ambitious department really cx- pect 10 receive all it ever includes in one of it's annual budgets? A little b!rl is whispering rearfully and it isn't saying yes"
 The school board, however, is in q class by itself; has been for some years. It's budget runs over d million; and it gets the money. The reason for this is obvious. The mayor and Senator Hall may be as great financiers as J, r. Nor gan but they cannot find a way to gainsay what the school board puts down on paper. The school board budget looks like an item ized bill from the merchant where you bought the wedding outfit. Every item is carefully inscribed, and the money must be had 10 pay the well known overhead. The school people don't go any higher, and the pruners find themselves well stumped every time. Consequently the board gets nearly all it asks, which is all ii needs and not a cent more,
 The departmou hich did not, or which do not, gt rcrything they want need not get downhearted or