The Nevada Democrat., 1857-12-30
County Finances--.Funding the Debt.

County Finances--.Funding the Debt.
There is much interest manifested at the
present time in the financial affairs of our coun-
ty, and it is subject of much discussion whether
any change in the conduct Of its financial afiars
is required-and if so, what. Recent inVestl-
cations show the county debt to be larger than
was supposed by those interested in its affairs
How that debt was created is now of but little
Importance; but it is important as matter Of
economy for the comfy that its business here
after be placed upon cash basis. and that its
debts be paid as soon as possible, without impes-
ing too oncrous burthens upon the tax payers
give below the valuation Of the property OF
the county, real and personal, as assessed in
1856 and 1857, the whole taxes levied for these
respective years, the rate per cent Of taxation
fer this year, and the present debts
YEAR. VALUATION TAX. RATE DHBr.
1856 $2,55S 900. $4O,9 936. l 6lO
1851 $sl75,OOO s59,5Ol $40. sl42,6s7.
The tax of this year includes the delinquent
tax of last year, or 80 much as was thought to
be of any account. The tax of this year being
ST. so per 500, or $40 per cent, was to the
full extent authorized by lay. This tax and the
debt as distributed to the different funds, arc as
follows:
State fund, 10 cts per 500, -
COUNTY public building fund rs per 500, s22 500
Indiqent sick fund rs cts per 500, s4,7s0
School fund, cts per 500, .o
Road fund, cts per sloO, s'o<
Total; $50 cts per 500, sls2,SS1
Interest, elo,ooV
The receipts from the tax Of this year will
reduce the Indebtedness Of the INDECENT sick
fund to $4,000, rs near as can be estimated,
The debt of the road fund is SMALL S762, and
can be easily disposed Of. For these special
funds there should be no debt, and tho liahili-
ties en- their account, for each year, can, aud
should be kept within the estimated receipts
from the tax levied.
The county public building fund debt is
$22, 800, and accruing interest at the rate Of
IL per cent per year. the interest payable semi
annually. The bonds which are outstanding
for this debt become payable as follows, with
interest
1855 $500 Interest, s2,7Oo Total, $1,000.
1890 iSSS s7'SUU s7SUS $500 $500 " $500.
Whether tho special tax of rs cts per 500
pIONluSQ 70 pay OObs 10 SNS1S"'S w '~N
purpose will depend upon the valuation o. the
property as hereafter assessed in this county.
II assessed in 1858 at 81 ,000 900, and at an in
creasing rate afterwards Of per cent year
upon that amount the tax will in the aggregate
be nearly sufficient to meet the debt-as make
it, there would be deficit Of $1,000. Upon
the valuation Of this year this tax would fall
short some $4,000 of paying the bonds and
interest There is, however, no doubt but the
assessment Of 1858 will reach the figure OF
S4. .0OO 900. There are those who are intimate
with the property and affairs Of the county, and
connected with its business, who place the val
uation from two to Gve hundred Thousand dol
lars more than l estimate it, The assessments
heretofore have been very imperfect Now.
much higher degree Of interest exists as to the
affairs and finances Of the county than at any
time previous, and the taxable property of the
county is steadily increasing. We may, there
fore, regard the Indebtedness Of the several
special funds mentioned as disposed of, and
come to the consideration of the Indebtedness
of the county general fund.
lueEe are NNuHNy
Oh the general fund to the amount of $lO4 545,
and interest at 10 per cent year. BY what
time and at what rate of taxation, such as the
county can bear, can this debt be provided for,
and the current annual expenses of the county
be met by cash payments. In order to arrive
at correct conclusion it will be necessary to
ascertain as near as may be the future annual
receipts and annual expenditures OF the county
on account of the general fund The experience
of the past is always the surest guide for the
future. but there are no records to assist us
previous to the 10th July, 1856, when all the
records were destroyed by fire. Since that time
the ordinary and extraordinary expenses are so
intermingled that it is difficult to Discriminate
between them. The accounts allowed and au-
dited from July 10Th 1856, to May 3lst 1857,
period of ten and half months, were S70, 1923.
or this amount a large proportion was for ex-
traordinary expenses / annex as accurate an
exhibit as can make from an examination Of The
books and reports Of the Auditor and Treasurer.
Total expenditures, $40, 1928
On court house and jaiI s3s, $40
Rent 3,218
Building for records, OO9
Books for Clerk, 1000
Safe for county Treasurer, 2o3
Legal services additional TO District Atty, 100
Seals, o.
Building bonds paid out Of general fund, 2,4S7
A,IS7
Deduct annual expense Of books, 5oO-s4S,6s7
s7,lss
Add same ratio Of expense for ! = months
TO complete the year, S,ooo
Ado for expeese Of a term Of the District
Court and Cour tof Sessions, not held i'm
mediatey after the Ere account Of tho