The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-11-10
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1881
Patchwork" Tax Quilt

In recent discussion of taxation in Con- necticut Dr. George B. Clarke. assistant ex- tension economist of the Connecticut Agri- cultural College. remarked that The Con- necticut tax system is largely an inheritance and for that reason contains many features suited to conditions at the time of their adoption but less well calculated to meet present needs As result of conditions in the earlier days, Connecticut had in l930 just 33o taxing districts Taxes were eol- leeted from 169 towns. six cities. twenty boroughs, fifty-two school districts. fifty seven fire districts one fire and sewer dis triet, one independent village district. eight sewer districts. four lighting districts. and twenty-six improvement associations. "A patchwork quilt of taxing districts with overlapping jurisdictions and multiplicity of boards with the power to tax and very large number of taxing officials - assessors. collectors, and boards of relief.
 We wonder if State Tax Commissioner Blodgett took his cue from this last remark Of the state college economist. It was only few short days ago that he suggested the archaic boards of relief be abolished. This body's work is for the most part hearing the griev- ances of property owners over their assess ments. It may authorize increases or de- creases in property taxation. Of course, Mir Blodgett feels pretty much the same way as the Storrs professor does and has for good many years. He has been attacking our present taxation system for years. espe- eially as regards collection of taxes in cities and towns. Waterbury has had its share of attention from the state tax commissioner. more if you asked certain officials.
 Nevertheless, we find ourselves heartily echoing the thought, patchwork tax quilt. There needs to be some simplified form ot taxation not only in Connecticut but throughout the United States. One prob- lem confronting Connecticut mayors. select men, etc, as revealed at several meetings In the late summer was the need of more reve- nue without raising present tax rates Mayor George Quigley was responsible for a state wide movement along this line. There are more meetings to come The sole thought is to find some source of revenue that won't prove obnoxious or burdensome to the tax payers already struggling under heavy burden. There have been many suggestions none certainly better than the one to return lcsalzed beers. wnes and other liquors that can be taxed to return a siZeable revenue to local, state, and federal governments, as they did in bygone days. However. 1t has occurred to us with more frequency of re- cent days that our executives should spend more time not in thinking up ways and means to raise civic revenue but to decrease running expenses.
 Property today bears the brunt of all taxation. And much of it is non nproduc- tive. Take idle farm lands, for example The farmer is hard put to keep up his taxes and generally works it out in labor and material furnished to the town. There should be some reclamation of such idle lands by the state for purposes of reforesta- tion, state parks or forests. Personal prop crty escapes almost scot free through inabil- ity to get owners to declare it. Taxation IS a subject that pertains to every man and woman of age. We can't ignore it lightly. It is bug-bear we must face before our off eials have allowed it to cover us from head to foot.