Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-01-08


former apparent balance, which was $l1,-
1885 making total Of $3, 532, COZ, 90
The balance in the Treasury. therefore at
the commencement Of the present fiscal
year, was 1926, 6,lls,95.
The leyies Of each year produce the re-
ceipts of the next year. The receipts aud
disbursements Of the current year, there
fore, can at present be only estimated the
levies only, which were made in part under
the acts Of the last, aud in part under the
acts Of preceding sessions are certain -
The taxes paid, and to be paid into the
treasury during the current year arise from
these leyies. Referring you to former com
for information relating TO for
mer years, / shall state summarily the amount
of taxable values, aud Of taxes levied in
1858. The total number of acres listed
for taxation was 25, ,299 96S. The valua-
ton Of these lands was $437 1873, 1872; that
of Town and City lots, $l53, O2Sl5; that
Of chnttels, $25O,5l4,OS4 making the
aggregate valuation Of all taxable proper
". $s40, ,S0O03l. The taxes levied for
genena State purposes were for Sinking
Fund, 81 ,047 902 for general State pur-
poses $5S7, ,206 for Common Schools,
$l,259, 092 tor District School Libraries,
$50, ,92O in all $2,97S, 1922 The levies
for County purposes were. for County eX-
penses 81, 1870, 939 for Bridges, 1851 ,9SS, ,
for the poor, $222,47l for building,
1920, 954, SO; for roads, $3.50 435; for
Railroads, $462,430, in all $2,S49,21O.-
The levies for Township, City, and other
local purposes, were. for township expen-
penses, 1884 05l for schools and school
houses 81 ,43S,Sll for city, town, and 9TH
er special taxes, 81 ,633, ,Sl6 making to.
tai for township and city taxes of 1885,
613 to which add for delnquencies and
forfetuFes, 572, 1880 making the aggre-
gate Of county and other local taxes, So
1883.
A slight degree of attention to these facts
will correct the common notion that the addi-
ton to existing taxation Of n new levy of some
fraction of u mill cannot be Of much couse-
uuence. The levy for school libraries is S63,-
920; yet the rate is but one-tenlh Of mill 1t
is the aggregate Of such rates, which, considered
separately ana without reference to the sums
produced, seems so inconsiderable, that consti-
tutes the total burden Of taxation.
While these considerations must be recon-
mended, not to the General Assembly only, but
the duties Of prudence, forhearance, and careful
ecOuomy, there is yet something in the objects
to which the revenues are devoted which may
reconcile us, in some measure, to the taxation
which we bear a very large proportion OF all
the public income is expended directly Tor tie
common good, The levies for schools school
houses aud libraries amounts, for example TO
81, ,S22 or nearly one third of the taxes III
all forms aud Tor oil purposes. \ e, who would
dispense with our schuOlS, shoul houses, or IL
braries Who does not know that this expen-
dture is more than reimbursed in the enhanced
value Of property and the augmented power OF
the people To taxation for these and similar
purposes the proceeds being honestly and eco
nUmcally applied, the people cheerfuily "on>ent.
They murnur, aud justly murmur, when their
burdens are augmented beyond the proportion
Of benefits hy improyideuce waste or e u'a-
tion. For the prevention of these evils the
reople must look to County Commissioners,
Township Trustees, Boards oil Education, and
City and Village Councils, even more than TO
the General Assembly. Ii cannot he too deeply
| impressed upon the public mind that the discrc-
tIUn committed 10 these local authorities. now
ever limited and guarded, must be necessarily
large, and that in respect to the imposition Of
far tin largest proportion of taxes, they cOnsti-
tu,e the real legislatures. Too much care cnn-
not be exercised in ie choice Of citizens TO Gil
these important Positions
To ensure the safest and most beneficial work
ings of our financial system il seems desirable
that assessment, levy, collection and disburse-
ment be brought as closely together as possible
| can see no good reason why assessments may
not be made and equalized, leyies deter .ined
and duplicates prepared during the last quarter
of each fiscal year. This wonId bring leyies in
to close proximity TO collections and ensure the
most exact proportion possible between values
and taxes. Nor do / perceive why County
! Treasurers collecting revenue for tue STATE
should not be required to report their collec
tions at brief intervals in the same manner as
| the collectors on canals, and hold them subject
to 'he draft Of the Comptroller, or why thci
final settlements with the State Treasurer shonlC
be delayed to the late day now designated b!
| law.
Each years income should, as nearly as~
| practicable, pay each years expenses, and M
money should remain in the Treasury excep
what is needed for current disbursements. The
act passed 1t your late session, providing for tn
semi annual collection Of taxes was, in my judg
ment wise step in the right direction aud
am glad to know has given general satisfaction
in its practical operation. The act authorizing
drafts by the Comptroller upon the Count!
| lfeasurels, Tor the taxes cOllected III December
just past, in order to their application to pay
ment Of the interest due OH the first of the cur
rent month, was another step towards the SAM
end. Justly obnoxious 10 censure as was th
practice Of collecting from the County 1'reasu
rers by similar drafts, in advance of their regu
lar settlements, large sums to be added to larg
balances already in the Treasury, or to suppl.
the place of large balances fraudulenlly ali
stracted, it can now hardly admit of questio
that our safest future policy will be 10 pay ou
January interest from December and our Jul
interest from June collections. As far as poss
ble also. the expenses of the first two quarter
Of each fiscal year should he deIrayed from tn
former, aud those OF the two last quarters iror
the latter collections. ] recommend snch legls
lation as may be deemed necessary to give praC
tical effect to these suggestions 10y providing fu
the prompt payment inio the State Treasury q
the States proportion Of taxes as soon as co
lecied, aud requiring earlier settlements by th
, County rreasurers with the State Treasurer
Such legislation would enable the Auditor {
State TO lay before the General Assembly, at a
early day in each session. a statement OF the aC
tual receipts from taxes in December aud III
, estimatrd receipts in june as well OF the actua
| and estimated REGENTS fFom nil other gOurce