New Britain herald., 1927-02-15
BUDGET UNDER FIRE ]
 AT COUNCIL C0NFAb|
Increase in Tax Rate Also
 Comes in for Criticism
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT HIT
Sablotsky Would Change Personnel of Board of Education-Fault Found With City for Laying Own Permanent PayementS.

If the republican party and the democratic party would change the entire personnel of the school board in the next five years the city would be better off," Councilman Samuel sablotsky shouted at the informal budget meeting of the common coun- cil held last evening in the mayoIs office. "It is a one-man school board and time will show l am right, ne added.
 Opposition to the increasing eX- penditures of the school department was responsible for Councilman sablotskys statements. failure to sell the schools no longer used being criticized by him. "Get new school board" he said, land the old schools would be sold so fast you couldn't see them go."
 The advance of the tax rate to the proposed 25 1-2 mills is due largely to the increasing expenditures Of the school department, it was explained to the council by Edward F. Hall, chairman of the board of finance and taxation. The upkeep of the new schools built during the year will re- olire the S1O0,000 to be realized through the increase of the grand list while another s100,0o0 must be spent on interest on the bonds ls- sued to build these schools. In reply to a question he said that the city should. realize enough money rom the sale of the old schools to pay for the proposed new one in the north western section. This led to Coun- cilman Sablotsky's outburst.
 Sablotsky continued his frontal at tack by asking how it was the Paonessa regime could run the city on a o3-mill tax and have balances left on hand, while the present ad- ministration would have to increase the rate to % 1-2 mills and then cut down expenses. Because the old Administration did everything on sl ort term notes," countered Alder Tan J. Gustave Johnson, "and these fire now coming due" Several mem- sbers of the council expressed them eselves as in favor of the pay-as-you- to policy but admitted they had to face the facts of bond issues.
 Public Works Dept. Criticized
 The sum of s3S2.317 allowed the board of public works by the finance board came in for considerable criticism, the items dealing with pay ing, in particular, causing discussion. Ouentioned about the S10,OSo for new tools, Chairman Hall said it in- cluded a S750e street sweeper which was expected to save its cost. Councli- man w. Spaulding Warner asked Ii an excavator would not do the same' but Mir. Hall told him that the board had not shown this.
 suggestion that another quar- ter of a mill be added to the tax rate and the money be given to the hoard of public works for new street work brought a storm Of protest Chairman Hall said the increase III the appropriation for that depart ment was already large, and Saplot- sky charged that the public works department was getting too much already. Many people cannot at- ford to pay the 1M mill raise,' he said, Most of the people in New Britain are working people. and the increase will be hard on them. lie suggested cutting the amount TOT permanent pavements.
 Has the board of public works the nerve to ask 5000 to pave Cor bin place?" Sablotsky went on after Chairman Hall had detailed the work outlined by that body. Tt benefits only few taxpayers, While Hartford avenue needs work on it and Allen street is in a frightful condition" Chairman Hall explained that the original request of the pup lie works department had been pared down by s10o,o0o and that necessarily all the work planned could not be done.
 Would Cut Paving Costs
 Objection to the city doing it's own paving without calling for bids was offered by Sablotsky, who said he believed the board of public works should send in sealed bids and com- pete with the private contractors. A contractor might underbid the city, whereas this possible saving is lost if the city goes ahead and does it's own work without asking other bids, he explained. Councilman Donald Bartlett concurred in this.
 Sablotsky left early, and when he went Chairman Hall commented, When all is said and done I like to hear him rant"
 Alderman Johnson suggested that the clerkships of the police depart ment and police board be made into one and a saving effected, as 1t was the only department now using the double system. Chairman Hall said it was up to the council and had been advocated for years but had never been put through. Johnson also protested against the failure to call for garbage collection bids be- fore making an estimate of the ex- pense for this item, saying he knew q man who wanted to bid and couldn't. When told anybody might bid he said. Somebody's lying some where" Sablotslty objected to the practice of collecting garbage in open wagons.
 People are walking the streets
 
 out of work" said Councilman Frank Zapatka in urging cut in appro- priations. Several other council members agreed with him. but when asked by Chairman Hall to specify the items which should be decreased they were unable to find any and 1t appeared likely that the 2512 mill rate would be approved at the meet ing tomorrow night