The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-04

years. Last year the tax rate was dropped a quarter of a mill. Appropriations Total $6,159, ,482 Total appropriations for this year amount to $6,159,462. A re |. duction in the margin of safety" between appropriations and esti- mated revenue made the drop in the tax rate possible despite the increase in the appropriations.
 Even the estimate on the grand
 list on which the tax rate for 1885 is based is lower than the figure submitted a year ago by the board of tax commissioners.
 The assessors submitted grand list figure to the finance board of million and one-half less than the one offered a year ago. How ever, the finance board set up margin of safety" approximately $193,O00 smaller than the one pro- vided in this years budget. The current years margin of safety" represents about 15 per cent of the estimated revenue. Next years safety margin will be about 10 per cent of the estimated revenue.
 Funding Bonds Sure
 In setting up the budget the fi- nance board also took cognizance of the fact that adoption of a bill allowing the city to float two funding bond issues of $500,O00 each, is practically assured of adop- tion by the 1885 legislature. One S5O0,O0O issue would be sold in 1885, to take care of bonds com ing due. The other $5O0,000 is- sue would be sold in 1886 for a similar purpose. In this way the budget is allowed to escape a $5O0,000 appropriation for bond retirement for 1885, thereby help ing the finance commissioners in their drive to reduce the tax rate.
 The welfare departments ap- propriation for 1885 is $3S0,000 as compared with $3OO,000 for the current year. The county taxes flor next year will be $28,000 great CT than the figure set up for th;s year and the cost of the teachers salaries will also be slightly larger for 1885, due to mandatory in- creases in pay.
 Ask Land Purchase
 At last nights meeting, also residents of West Side hill, headed by Attorney Michael V. Blansfield and Miss Lulu Murphy of Russell grammar school, asked the board of aldermen to order the pur- chase of property in the western section of the city to be used as a recreation field. They pointed out the lack of a baseball or football field in that section of the city and to loss of life in recent years of children playing in sandbanks for want of a better and safe" place to find recreation. Rev Ridgeway Shinn of West Side Hill Methodist church also spoke in be- half of the proposed project. The matter was referred to a commit tee consisting of Aldermen George R. Guilfoile, John Derwin and Jo- seph Wilhelm.
 To committee consisting of Aldermen Guilfoile, Ernest P. Bell val, and c. Arthur Dubois was re- ferred demands made by Charles Campbell of this city and New Ha- ven, communist leader and organ izer of the Steel and Sheet Metal Workers union. A group of his followers were present at the meeting as Campbell demanded the Mutual Aid System be discontinued, that a 50-cent an hour pay be adopted as the minimum on any relief job; that $10 cash relief weekly for each unemployed fam fly be paid by the city, plus $3 for each dependent whether or not they have found work; that not less than $7 cash relief for unem- ployed single men and women be paid whether or not they have found work; that free transporta- tion, doctors, nurses and hospI- talization for the unemployed be supplied; that the unemployed be exempted from evictions for lack of rent payment; free gas and cleo tf'ic lights; and not less than one pint of milk for each member of an unemployed family and not less than one ton of coal monthly for each unemployed family.
 Sewer Petitions Referred
 Petitions for sewer in America street and a light on Walnut ave- nue were referred to the works board. To the abatements com mittee went 12 petitions for abate- ment or postponement of taxes. The law committee received nine claims for damages. The board approved the layout of Great Elm streets, and referred the mat ter to the bureau of assessment. The work will cost $12,000. Numer. ous transfers requested by the fi- nance board were approved and 17 ex-servicemen entitled to $1,- 900 exemption in taxes were grant, ed abatements.
 The board voted to refund $6.50 to Samuel Krasow, the sum he paid on an unused building permit. A claim for two chickens killed by stray dogs was referred to the chicken committee. I,
 The family of the late Attorney
 Joseph A. Bergin sent a letter of thanks to the board for the kind-