Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-11-19
why Taxes Were Increased.
WooDsToCK, Va. Nov. Is, 10
To THE HERALD:

why Taxes were increased
WooDsTocK, Va. Nov. Is, 10.
TO THE HERALD:
In the last issue OF the
HERALD, a writer under the nom de
plume of Tax payer" inquiries the
cause Of the increase Of county levy for
the present year, and addresses his in
curry to "any county official" mas
much as am the attorney for the Board
of Supervisors it is not improper that l
should take upon myself the work of
answering for them, 1t is certainly the
right Of every tax payer to know the
why and wherefore of any increase in
taxes. and it is the duty Of public off.
GERS to furnish the information whenever
required. In this instance l take spe-
cial pleasure In presenting the facts and
am much obliged to LAX payer" for
the opportunity. 1 know it has been
enormously charged that and Others
are mainly responsible for the increase,
and this has been industriously circulat-
ed for several weeks past for purpose
too obvious to require mention now.
II will be remembered that our coun-
ty. some FIVE years ago assumed to pay
certain salt claims amounting. interest
included, to something near $4,000. This
was paid in annual installments. AT
the time this debt was assumed the
county levy was reduced to twenty
cents. The depOsitum then IN the
treasury was entirely consumed by the
smallpox claims. This necessarily
brought about deficiency. Alter this
certain other war claims amounting 10
several thousand dollars were present
ed, and the Board of Supervisors reject
ed them. The claimants appealed 10
the county court and that court sustain
ed the Supervisors. The matter was
again appealed to the circuit court and
then Judge Turner reversed the county
court and Board ofSuperyisors, and REM
dered judgment against the county. AT
the meeting of the Board OF Supervisors
in November, 1878, they found the
county treasurer deficient upwards OF
$4,000. The revenues were insufficient
for this and to meet the usual apprc-
pliations. There was but one alterna-
tive. They added 10 cents to the coun-
tY levy for one year.
At that meeting they instructed the
Commonwealth Attorney to defend,
in the name Of the Board, every appli
cation for money for any and all pur-
poses. In every instance this was
done. At the annual meeting OF The
Board last Tuesday they had the pleas
ure of finding the county out OF debt at
last, with less than 5000 of appropria-
tons other than necessary county eX'
penses; that they will haye small
surplus on baud, and that the levy
hereafter can and will be put down one
half-or 5 cents less than 1t has ever
been-and be sufficient for all purposes.
For the increase this year neither the
Board o: Supervisors nor any officer OF
the county is responsible. The claims
which made the necessity were rejected
by the Old Board, were resisted by Col.
oh. Walton while Atty. for the Com.
and by myself as his successor. In a
word, the conscience Of the appellate
courts (not that of the Board or of my
self increased Our taxes 10 cents for the
one year.
l may tender 10 "taX payer" the
assurance that the present Board OF
Supervisors were as much chagrined at
the necessity for the increase as he can
possibly be, and that their determine
ton is unal;erable 10 reduce the levy for
coming years to the lowest practicable
point-say one-half the present. rate.
Very Respectfully,
H. II, RIDDLEBERGER.
Atty. for Com.