The Commissioners of the Sinking fund, have purchased during the year Six per Cents..... $6.000.00 Bonds issued from 28 Septemr to 31st December 1824...... 24.300. $1.324.300. Purchased by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund to 31 As the City Stock and such other as the Commissioners of the Sinking fund are authorised by a Law of the Corporation to purchase, were seldom in the Market during the Year, and almost always at a rate higher than the Commissioners judged to be beneficial to purchase; they thought it most advisable to place the revenue under their controul, at interest. The above sum of $55.927.03 including Interest to the first day of December. One thousand Eight hundred and twenty four, remains at their disposal [351] This amount, which may be considered equivalent to the like sum of City Stock purchased, is added thereto; and there appears to be $132.342.71 less of City Debt, on the 31st December 1824 than there was exhibited in the last Annual Report. Additions to the sinking Fund, are made weekly, from the sources designated by Law, and the above mentioned arrangement may be continued, until the public Interest will warrant the purchase of Stock. The Six per Cents may be redeemed at the close of the Year 1826, and it will depend on existing circumstances at that time, whether it will be best to sell certain portions of public property, or to negotiate a new loan for its redemption. The value of real Estates, and the rate of Interest at which money may be obtained, would probably determine at that period, the wisest course to be pursued. The Commissioners are annually diminishing the City debt, by means appropriated for this purpose; and should no extraordinary expenses be incurred, beyond the avails of the Taxes and Revenue derived from Corporation property, including sundry miscellaneous payments from various sources, the most beneficial results as to the reduction of the debt [352] may be confidently expected. Several defects have been experienced in the operation of the Act of the Legislature for the Assessment and Collection of Taxes, passed. April 23d, 1823—which have, on the suggestion of the Board of Supervisors, been communicated to the Comptroller of the State. As some of them are peculiarly applicable to this City, and materially affect our fiscal concerns, it is important that alterations should be obtained at the present session of the Legislature. The Committee having the charge of forwarding proposed Laws and amendments, applicable to this City, will no doubt give this subject its proper direction. A considerable delay arises every year in the Collection of Taxes, which is not attributed to neglect or want of exertion on the part of Collectors, but many persons postpone a final settlement as long as possible; by which a loss accrues to the public, from the Corporation being necessitated to make loans in anticipation of the Tax This subject has been formerly brought to view, and it is considered of sufficient consequence again to recommend a measure, which would be equitable and just in its operation, and supersede the necessity of [353] of borrowing money on interest, to the extent practiced for some years past. The Assessment Books are generally placed with the Collectors by the middle or latter part of October, and they have until the Second Monday of May to collect, & settle with the Treasurer It is proposed that all Taxes over a certain sum to be designated, which are not paid before the 1st day of February, should bear Interest at the rate of 6 per Cent Per Annum. The sum thus raised by Interest, would indemnify the Treasury for that accruing on temporary loans, or the measure would induce more punctuality in the payment of Taxes when they are due An Alteration of the time for making Assessments was also suggested, in consequence of many individuals removing from the City before the Assessors commence their business. If this was to take place in February, and the Collection of the Tax completed during the Year, it is thought that many advantages would result from the change. The objections to this amendment have been anticipated, and duly considered; and the benefits to arise from altering the time of Assessments, are supposed to preponderate [354] in favour of the Measure. The Annual Tax of Twenty five Thousand Dollars for the Battery, might conveniently be diminished, if not total dispensed with in future, unless some further improvements, embracing a large expense, are contemplated. A Computation will be prepared and submitted, as early as possible, of the probable Receipts and Expences of the present year, for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of Tax proper to be applied for. Estimates from several official sources, of expenses likely to be incured, will be requisite to form the intended Schedule. As there are some improvements in progression, and others contemplated, which are yet uncertain as to their extent of Cost, any prospective calculation will necessarily be imperfect. It is thought, however, from a cursory view of all the subjects likely to be embraced in the operations of the Common Council, connected with the Finances of the City, that the present amount raised by Tax, will be sufficient to meet the demands of the current Year Respectfully Submitted G N Bleecker, Comptroller Dr. [355] Cash Account for the Year 1824 For Balance in the Treasury as per last Account dated 31 Decr 1823 28.460.27 Amount of receipts into the Treasury, under the following heads.— viz-Alms-House-Bridewell & penitentiary, for Labours of paupers & prisoners in the Pin Factory...... 792.58 ........ Streets, for Opening, widening, improving, regulating & paving, including Sewers 146.338.34 Bonds payable, for amount borrowed on twelve Bonds.. 197.200. ..... Interest Account, for Interest on Bond, and on Arrears of Taxes, 3.927.95 Docks & Slips, for Work done with Mud Machine, account for building Bulkhead and for Rent..... 29.808.87 Courts, Fines & Fees from Sheriff, District Attorney, Clerk of ...... [356] Fire Department, Sales of old Engine No 10 and old Hose and pipe 411.06 Wells & pumps, digging Wells, & making and setting pumps... 5.078.02 816.66 Real Estate, for property sold... Charges on Arrears of Taxes and Assessments, Advertising, Certificates, Leases, and Auction Fees on Sales of Property... 4.868.50 1.738. 2.556.44 3.984.03 995. Intestate Estates, from Public Administrators.... Arrears of Taxes, from Collector of Arrears of Taxes.. Commutation for Alien passengers.... Taxes, for Tax of 1823 $311.004.96 and of 1824 $52.900.. 363.904.96 24.977.20 Lien on Lots, reimbursements for Expenditures correcting Nuis ances 1.110.27 Lamps, sales of Empty Casks, lighting private Lamps.. 355.32 Vendue Sales, from State Treasurer.. 10.000. Mayoralty fees 2.355.65 Penalties, from Attorney for violations of the Burial and Other By Amount of Warrants on the Treasury for payments under the 80.104. 191.864.31 Streets, for Opening, Widening, improving, regulating & paving, including Sewers Bonds payable, for fourteen Bonds paid..... Interest Account, Interest on City Stock Bonds and Assessments.. * Clerk's error in numbering.—ED. 251.200. 76.205.80 Docks & Slips, building & repairing Bulkheads and pier and Working Mud Machine..... 26.802.91 Courts, Recorders, District Attorney, Clerk and Criers Salary, and 12.375.11 10.068.42 [358] Justices Courts, Salaries of the four Justices & Clerks, and Room rent .... 9.845. Police Office, Justices, Clerk & Assistant Clerks' Salaries, Officers Wells & pumps, digging Wells, making setting and repairing pumps. 9.667.01 7.637.64 5.018.97 3.980.49 1.773. 1.204.36 421.17 Arrears of Taxes paid State Arrears 1823.. 1.324.97 Commutation for Alien passengers. for furnishing Lists of passengers 100. Taxes, paid supervisors, & for completing Tax Books...... 384. 120.75 [359] Lien on Lots, paid for correcting Nuisances.. 205.34 Lamps, Oil, Superintending, Lighting and repairing Lamps, and making & Setting Posts...... 21.470. Watch 55.331.63 Fever Hospital, account of building.. 17.662.63 Battery, making Wall & reef & filling in, paving Walks, fencing &c. 29.610.83 20.346.55 Fulton Market, Butchers for Stands. in Old Fly Market, and Expences 11.572.32 Common Schools and Charities... 10.808.89 Street Expenses, regulating & paving round park and other public property, repairing Intersections of Streets, Sewers &c.... Repairs 8.238.22 7.008. Roads. Amount of Warrants to Overseer of Public Roads.... Working Convicts, Warrants to superintendant of Alms House for that purpose 5.200. Markets, Clerks' Salaries & Sweepers and repairing Markets. Printing and Stationary.... Board of Health, including Dr Roosa's verdict & Costs for spreading Lime in 1822.... [360] Elections, Inspectors, Clerks & Officers attending polls.. Coroner's fees * See next page.-ED. 5.000. 4.990.99 4.504. 3.154.06 3.108. 1./57.25 1.729.43 |