The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-01-02


 and members of both major politi- cal parties. These men advised the revaluation which has since been carried out. They also suggested the appointment of a single as- sessor which appointment has been made.
 Through these changes another common municipal problem has been met in this city by action in- stead of by turning aside from the plain facts. The general upward trend of values has had to be recognized. It has also been neces- sary to take cognizance of the lack of uniformity in assessments which has increased over ten years. The current revaluation will take into consideration the in- crease in costs and in value. It will also level off the valuations of buildings in any single class to prevent discrimination. The re- suits will be difficult in some cases but the majority of people will recognize, I am sure, that this day had to come and that they have, in many cases, been receiving the benefits of unduly low assessments for long time.
 This simple fact is that costs have gone up. This is true in the operation of government as well as in industry and in the home. A similar condition prevailed af- ter the last war. In one year in this city, at that time, the tax rate was increased seven mills and you know only too well that the 1918 rate of twenty-two mills was never again approached.
 we are having imitation in the country generally, and it is inev- itable that we have it in govern ment. For example, wages have gone up % per cent in the shirt making industry, they have risen 3l per cent in certain branches of the airline industry and they have gone up IS per cent in the oil in- duStry, all within the last few weeks. Municipal wage levels will have to keep their relative posi- tion.
 At the present time we are pay ing approximately $500,000 more in wages than in 1922 and no one can say when or where this up- ward trend is going to stop. The materials which we use in con- struction and repairs are costing about fifty per cent more than we paid five years ago. At the same time, however, we receive increased demands for services, for capital improvements and for governmental assistance.
 If our normal pre-war services are to be maintained, it will re- quire the collection of more money than in the past because the cost of providing services and obtain ing materials in the volume and manner they were provided before the war has risen to such a marked degree during the war years.
 look forward with some appre- hension to the period which lies just ahead. The conversion to peacetime will be extremely diffi- cult. There will be marked short ages of housing, of materials and of services. Prices will be high and the quality of many things will be poor. There will be the unrest and uneasiness that are the natural aftermath of the supreme effort in which we have been en- gagged. The demands on govern ment and upon governmental officials will be heavy. All of us will have a great responsibility and I assure you that am buoyed up in the knowledge that I have your honorable board to assist me.
 Our prospects are not complete ly gloomy, however. The long range picture is optimitistic. Our industries are healthy and our people are stable. As we turn from war we have the opportunity to set the mold which will form the destiny of our city for many years. We have made broad plans for that future and they must be car- ried into effect.