The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-09-10

be honestly and intelligently spentP Is it not to the personal advantage of every candidate on the Democratic ticket that taxes should be reduced and that the money raised through taxes should be honestly and intelligently spent? ..-
 "'The facts speak for themselves. But although they do speak for themselves an attempt has always been made to distort them and to make the tax rate an issue. We are perfectly willing that 1t should be made an issue in this campaign because we have no fear of the result. We stand on the record.
 within the last few weeks an effort has been made to convince the taxpayers of Waterbury that they are the victims of an excess sive tax rate and that during our administration there has been no reduction in taxes. The statement has even been made that the citi- zens of Waterbury are moving to other communities to escape the alleged terrific 'tax burden here. The claim is openly made that our tax rate is the highest in the state, Those who make this claim are fully aware that it is untrue. But for reasons best known to themselves they continue to re- peat the untruth in the hope that constant repetition will make the taxpayers believe 1t is the truth.
 Tax Comparisons
 T do not want to burden my listeners with lot of figures but in order to prove the facts I am obliged to give a few of the figures involved. Waterbury is being con- stantly compared with other cities in the state and always to Water bury's disadvantage. Let us, there- fore, compare our tax situation with that in the three largest cities of the state. The figures given are not of my making. They are taken from public documents issued by the state tax depart ment.
 "On the 1886 grand list, the tax es on which are being collected during 1897, the tax rate in Hart ford is 26.7 mills; in New Haven 1t is 27 1-2 mills, in Bridgeport 1t is 28.6 mills, and in Waterbury 1t is 31 1-2 mills.
 Tt must be remembered, how ever, again I am quoting state tax department figures that in Water bury our property is assessed at 80 per cent of fair market value in 1929. In the other three cities the assessment is 100 per cent.
 If the assessment in Waterbury were made at the 100 per cent value which obtains In Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport, our tax rate would then be 25.2 mills, lower than any of the other three. Similarly, If the assessment in Hartford, New Haven and Bridge port was reduced to our 80 per cent value, we would again find ourselves with the lowest tax rate.
 ITO give a concrete example of this assessment: If @ taxpayer in Waterbury owns property with @ fair value of $l0,000, he is paying this year $252 in taxes. If he owns the same property in Hartford, he pays $265, he pays $275 in New Haven, and he pays $286 in Bridgeport. Certainly any Water bury taxpayer is not saving money by moving to any of these three cities.
 Taxes Reduced
 But what about the repeated statement that there has been no reduction in taxes in Waterbury since this administration assumed oce? It is a favorite trick of our opponents to assert that the tax of 42 mills, which had been set before we came into oftlce in January, 1880, was false one purposely raised so that we might lower it. While this assertion is too absurd to bother answering, let us for a moment ignore the tax rate on the 1929 list and go back to the preceding year of 1928. Surely there can be no claim that we had anything to do with that tax rate because at that time, I at any rate, had no idea of being a candidate for office. The tax rate established in Wa terbury in 1928 was B mills. And that was inadequate. Because that rate was piling up deficits. For that same year the tax rate in Hartford was 22 3-4 mills, in New Haven 24 mills, and in Bridgeport 28.8 mills.
 Compare these figures with the present rate in the four cities and we find that the Bridgeport rate is practically the same, the rates in Hartford and New Haven have materially increased, while the rate in Waterbury has shown a decided decrease.
 Furthermore, in 1930, Water bury had the eighth highest per capita tax in the state. In 1885 it dropped to 18th on the list.
 "There is a sure and easy way for the taxpayers of Waterbury to settle all this question of taxes, and suggest they follow it. Let them look at their tax bills when we took office and let them look at their tax bills today. That and that alone tells the true story of tax reduction. It is a story of accomplishment upon which the administration takes justifiable and honest pride.
 But the record of accomplish ment is not confined to tax re- duction. It is true of every de- partment in the city government and 1t is shown in many ways. FrIaA credit nf flaa nikv f0r inGkAncA