Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-02-14
THECOUNTY FINANCES
Ex.COMMIsSIONER ROBERT MONT
GOMERY.

Ex-ooMMIsslo!SsS,,s: rkI RoBERr MONT
He Again discusses the Increased Tax Levy.
EDITORS INTELLIGENCER: A sense Of
duty impels me to give the public second
epistle on the management of the county |
finances, partly in correction of an over
sight of large item in my last calculation
of the rate of taxation that was necessary
to meet the current expenses of this
county for the present year. demon
strated that levy Of two aud half mills
on the dollar was more than sufficient. In
that calculation entirely overlooked the
extraordinary surplus of s92, 900 that was
in tho treasury at the end Of the last term
$50, 900 of that, at least, ought to have been
included in making up the appropriations
for the present fiscal year. And still there
would have been left s42, 600 to commence
the now year with, quite as much
surplus as the interests of economy
allow to be carried from year to
year. There always has been a
months in the spring and it is in the in
terest of economy that it should be 50.
This has been provided for by temporary
loans. 1t is much cheaper method OF
bridging this chasm than to keep suiii.
cient fund on hand the whole year to meet
it. There was an unusually large surplus
on hand at the end of the year before, but
over $40, 900 of it was absorbed in paying
the bonded debt, aud the last board might
have paid $50, 600 more OF that debt, but
We were funding it for ten years, at the
unusually low rate of four per cent. IN
terest. a much less rate than money s
worth to the taxpayers generally. There
fore, we thought that it would subscrvc
their interests better to give them the
benefit of it in the reduction Of their tax
this year, which is transparent think to
everybody.
propose to state the reasons why be-
lieve two-mill tax this year would have
been sufficient to pay current expenses,
and leave surplus of So, 600. The va!u-
alton which is the basis OF taxation Is
about ninety million dollars. a two-rll
levy will yield $3.50, 900 add to this $50,
900 out OF the surplus on hand from last
year this will make $3.50, 1000. The entire
expense o: the county last year was S2l0,
600. There was included in that at least
$1,000 of extra expenses that will not oc
cur this year, consisting OF the following
items difference Of interest on account
of the difference between the bonded debl
last year and this year (payiEg a year anG
a-halt'> last year, which will not be re
Iuired this year, repairs OF CONT house
reindexing books, readjusting papers
files, g., in the offices, aud repairs at tin:
prison, all amounting to considerable over
leave S195, 900, which was the actual cur.
rent expense OF last year. The three pre-
sent commissioners are al! practical i'us
ness men, ami | presume they went a
their new duties iu !: busness-like mar
ner, beginning by looking over the item
of expense OF last year. Ia thus duin
they would have ascertained that fl.
actual ordinary expenses were Sl9j, 900, a
above stated. This gave them {. know
edge of what funds they needed for thj
years expenses. On the other side
look into the treasury would have co
vinced them that there was ut leas
$4,000 available out OF lust years sur
plus for this years expense. With thi
knowledge surely they ought to have re
duced the tax to two mills instead ,
raising to three. \ three-miil levy wi
put them in possession of tha enoGmou
sum OF $500. 900, an excess of Sl25, OF
over what is needed. This mus stri:s
everybody rs Il very extraordinary pru
ceedins on the part of the commissioner
and as yet they have given no tangib'
reason for it. | see i communication
the INTEIIIGEScEK headed I" What IL
People Say ; A Vigorous Defense of Il
County Levy | feel satisfied TIA: il
tho production of one OF the commissions
from talk | had with him on ii
subject, or would bot waste paper aila'
ing to it. The people do not say ii,
such silly things as he alleges they say
his imaginary vigorous Geferce - oi l.
three mills levy. They depreca:c it l
they have good reason to. They don
want the board to raise sl25 600 mo-
than is needed of the money they need
their business, to hoard ia the couu
treasury for two years, lest onc Of tho
"periodical panics " may come sweepil
along and rob them. They have no su,
visionary fears. They feel that they 4
capable of using and taking care Of the
own money until the public need it.
Also, he alleges as reason why l Crit
else this levy that l have some ovcld
bonds that arc drawing more interest thu
the funded debt, and am afraid they "
b, called in on account Of it. The diife
ence Of interest between the bones ho
is one e-iifth of one per cent quite CO
sideratiOn indeed). His reasoning in TIL
trifing personal allusion is about as "vi
orous,'' AS his "defense of the coun
levy" He further says they can use it
clnceling any Of the ten year bonds tn
my bs offered from time to time. The
will be precious few OF them offered,
less the rate of interest on money sho,.
advance, and il that event it would
impolitic to pay them in advance of til.
maturity, BY SO doing, he depriyes &