The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-09
Politics
in
Passing
BY RAYMOND J. FITZPATRICK

The past week has seen a grea'
deal Of loose talk about the BIZ
surplus" the city viii have al
the end Of 1910. Judging from soml
Of the comments In the Republican
press, remarks at the alderman,
hearing on the budget and CONVEX.
sation In some political circles, tn,
big problem that will face Mayor.
elect Vincent Scully will consist d
deciding what o do with all the
extra money on hand.
All this sounds very well, but 4
takes lot Of examination.
The 1910 budget recommended
BY the board Of finance lists APP
preparations Of $8,158, 872.12, with
tax rate Of 32.5 mills ON grand
Hist Of $166,6OO 900. Most depart.
mental appropriations have been
cut down, the axe being welded
with telling effect on several bu-
reaus.
The very first fly In the ointment
Is the strong possibility that the
grand list Is too high. The finance
commissioners land they must be
given credit for the long, arduous
hours they put In on q thankless
task originally had the grand list
considerably below that figure. They
found II necessary to raise 1t, and
only seer can tell II their action
was justified.
Principal among the arguments
OF those talking 30 generously Of
big SURPRISES next year Is that
the city, under the Culhane char
ter act, can now estimate tax rev.
enue at only 81 percent Of the
levy, instead Of 95 per cent. They
point out that collections this
year, with three weeks still 10 20,
are over 95 per cent. With the
same tax payments next year, ac-
cording TO their reasoning, any
tax payments over 90 per cent OF
the levy will be SO much "gravy"
for the city.
One important fact they slide
over Is that the same Culhane
charter act allows the city for
the first time to figure income
from back tax collections as q re-
source. And the finance commits
sioners have duly set up S245.-
7S3.08 as the total expected In
back tax collections next year.
The more In current taxes col
lected this year, then the less In
back taxes that will be available
next year~ That seems an elemen-
tory proposition, but Is just being
brushed aside by the 0ptlmists.
A glance at the 1910 budget shows
that any economies effected, II they
are TO reach any substantial sum
will have to come from salary items
in the various departments. Debt
services account for $1,l75 900 Of the
money to be spent next year; state
ard county taxes will take $500, 900
There Is roughly q million and q
half dollars.
The education department will
take S1,73O,0O0; the fire depart
nent. 100000; and the police de-
partment, 100000. Thus another
S3,OOO,OOO gone. That brings the
approximate total 10 S4,5O0,0OO,
roughly three -fourths Of all APP
propriatlons for next year.
with the remaining One-quar-
ter Of the budget, presumably, the
new administration can play
around and roll up the surplus
es," even though that one-quar"
ter includes such small items as
$3.50, 900 for the street and sewer
department and $457 900 for the
welfare department. Also 10 be
taken care Of are a few dozen
other city departments or bureaus
which must be kept functioning.
1t Is not by any means impossi-
bic that the city treasury will have
a surplus at the end Of next year,
but such o situation will not come
as a result Of any efforts BY those
who've decided already Just what
the picture will be Dec. 81, le4l.
Some OF those ultra rosy predic-
lions are sincere; others have q
political basis. There can be NO
question but that an attempt is
being made to sell the public an
idea that as the new adminlstra-
ton takes office, everything In the
city's financial condition Is fine,
and that ell Mr.. scully and hts
aides have TO do h hold out their
hands and let the money roll In.
II such an idea Is actually sold TO
the citizens, naturally they will
lock askance at MIR. Scully II such
isn't the case when the year draws
TO q close. And o situation Of that
kind would not be ut oil distaste-
full TO Mr.. Scully's political op-
ponents with an election coming
up nine months later.
ANY one Of q dozen factors could
make all the glowing talk about city
finances In 1910 turn 0 sickly hue.
Tag payments could fall off, for one
thing. business conditions could cas-
Iiy change and heavy demands made
on the welfare department. And the
welfare department budget doesn't
give much leeway. Yes,the appropri-
alton is more than for this year, but
Il must be remembered that through
q good part of 1899 the finance
board has sent money pouring into
the welfare department from the
emergency fund and the contingen-
CIV fund, and then from a contin-
vency fund replenished with money
secured through drastic, economies
n other departments.