The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-09-17
Senator Culhane Launches Attack On
 Administrations Record Of Finances

heve unemployment conditions, Nobody knows how much the TERRA and the CWA poured into the city coffers but it is 8 pretty good guess that, all in all, the federal government has contribute ed about two million dollars to help our city. Mayor Hayes, in his acceptance speech told of the hard times of the depression days, noting that at one time 1-12 of our people were on relief. Well, who paid the bill? Those of us who were more fortunate and had an income paid the bill through our donations to the Mu- tual Aid. In all we contributed over $2,4O0,000. That is quite @ sum and 1t did not come out of the city taxes, but was vol- untary tax accepted by the public so that Mayor Hayes would not have to raise his tax rate again.
 'In recent years Waterbury has not met bond payments falling due out of tax revenue. Instead the city has sold new bonds to pay of tho old--thus giving the ad- ministration more tax money to play with.
 There is still another item which helped Mayor Hayes ad- immigration over the rough spots of the depression. School teachers, hremen, policemen and other city employees helped to keep the tax rate down by accepting voluntary cuts in salaries. They signed wal vers that saved the city more than one million dollars.
 "So the Hayes administration has not only had the 48 million dollars taken in in taxes and other revenue, but 1t has also had about $6,400,000 extra to play ball with and what ball games they played. Well, you taxpayers property owners and rent payers alike--what did you get for your money? We have some new bridges, seven to be exact, some new sewers and some new pave- ments-but we always built bridges and laid pavements, even in the days before federal aid was ever heard of.
 Where's The Saving?
 Furthermore, did the adminis- tration attempt to obtain these improvements at a minimum cost, or did they spare no expense in order to kill two birds with one stone. In one instance the nec- eSSary improvements; in the other, building up of 8 powerful political machine with the funds. Now, two million dollars will do a lot of work of that type. You would naturally expect that with all of that federal money pouring into the oity there would be some money saved, somehow, some where. We have shown that the bonded indebtedness has been in- creased rather than reduced SO there is no saving there. Well where Is the saving to the tax payer?
 "The answer from the city hall Is that 1t reduced the tax rate. How much did it reduce it2 Let us remember that $6,40OOO0 in addition to taxes collected and then take Q look at the tax re- duction. This year the ad1ninis- tration cut the tax rate one- quarter of one mill. Not much of a cut, you will say, but a cut nevertheless. Well, let us look at the record and see how much of a cut 1t really was. First remem- Der, that Q mill is a tenth of a cent and the city hall cut the tax rate one-quarter of mill. In other words, they cut the tax rate one.fortieth of @ cent. Pretty small figuring on the tax reduc- tion end compared to the millions in contributions and receipts we were talking about @ few min- utes ago.
 "How much saving in dollars and cents to the taxpayer did this much talked about tax cut mean2 If you multiply the grand list total of 165 million dollars you will get the result--the mag nificent sum of $41 ,250 dollars. So with $6,400,00 over and above the ordinary revenue of the city at its disposal, the city hall las pass ed on @ saving of $41,250 this year to all of the taxpayers in the city. That Is simple arithmetic.
 "At this rate of reduction, how ever, it will take 20 years to bring Waterbury'S tax rate down as low as that of New Haven, Hartford or Bridgeport-if, in the mean time, we do not have to issue more deficiency bonds.
 Tt shows that you are not getting what Mayor Hayes says you are getting. That is part of Mayor Hayes record.
 Tell The Public
 "That is one of the things ask him to explain. Let him tell us why the taxpayer of Waterbury is still paying the highest rate of any city in the state. Can he give an answer without Assessor Town Chairman Crary's phony 30 PCA VCAAv CAP4uAAaV4O%AJ 4Ob AAAAA also tell us what he has done with the $54,400,000 dollars of city funds he has expended since he took office.
 ''In conclusion, may I say that in future broadcasts I will show that Mayor Hayes administration has squandered the taxpayers money. will show how good, economical government can be given ct lower cost to the tax payer by the elimination of need less waste of public funds. I will show that the bonded indebted ness can be reduced and further deficits prevented by the careful administration of the affairs of local government"