City Council Estimates

ESTIMATES DISCUSSED AT SPECIAL SESSION – City Council Last Thursday Considers By-Law Changes and Fixes Tax Rate.

            At a special session of the city council held last Thursday evening, all the aldermen were present, Mayor Genest presiding.

            A delegation from the Womens’ Institute and the citizen’s “Save the Children Fund” was in attendance and laid the matter of making a grant to the Russian Relief Fund before the council, the speakers being Mrs. Little and Mrs. Healey.  This had previously been brought up, and a tie vote resulted in the mayor deciding against the grant.  Since that time an organized drive was put on, and the matter was again placed before the aldermen.  A motion was made by Alderman Moir and Santo that the council grant the sum of $100 to the Fund, but coming to the vote, the motion brought the same division, and the mayor disposed of the matter by putting the casting vote against it.  Alderman Flowers voted for the motion, and Aldermen Balment, Arnold and Cameron against.

            Estimates for the year were considered, and laid down tentatively as follows:

Finance                                                                                                $19,292.50

Fire                                                                                                          9,799.57

Police                                                                                                      8,900.00

Works                                                                                                    13,530.00

Health and Relief                                                                                    1,000.00

Water                                                                                                      4,000.00

Sewer                                                                                                    11,000.00

School                                                                                                   33,555.03

Debenture Repayment and Exchange                                                              19,000.00

Total                                                                                                  $110,177.10

            This allows a rate being struck of 46 mills on the dollar, which is but one mill more than last year, and still four less than the year previous to that.

            How these estimates compare with those of last year will be seen from the following figures:

Finance                                                                                                $16,621.90

Fire                                                                                                          8,860.00

Police                                                                                                      8,900.00

Works                                                                                                    12,865.00

Health and Relief                                                                                       700.00

Water                                                                                                      3,700.00

Sewers                                                                                                     1,000.00

School                                                                                                   33,121.27

Light Dept.                                                                                                  82.64

Debenture Repayment                                                                                      19,444.09

Total                                                                                                  $105,294.90

            Tax Rate By-law, No. 205, fixing the rate for the coming year at 46 mills was given first, second and third readings, and also the customary Percentage Addition By-Law, No. 206, providing for the penalties as heretofore, failing payment of taxes by the proper dates.

            By-Law No. 207, Water Debenture By-Law, 1922, was given first, second and third readings and a resolution was passed that a vote of the ratepayers be taken on the 30^th of March, 1922, on Thursday of next week, at the City Hall, between the usual hours, T.M. Roberts to act as returning officer.  This is the by-law which is published in proper form in this issue, and to which further reference is made elsewhere.  Being a money by-law a three-fifths majority will be called for on the measure.

            By-Law No. 208, Water Works Amendment By-Law, repeals the arrange- [line lost] pipes.  Under the new arrangement all pipes will be thawed out once free of charge, after which a charge of $4 per time will be made.