The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-09-01
Correspondence Baiiimorc County Union.
COUNTY FINANCES.


BALTIMORE COUSTY. Aug. -, ISS3.
H'''Ts Editors Although have not troubled
you With any communication for more than a
month on the subject Of county finances and the
unnecessarily high levy made this year, 1t l. no
proof tina; the subject l. exhausted and that pub.
lie attention should be no longer directed TO IL.
The large amount of new aud missed property
which has been assessed by the assessors within
the past Eve years. amounting 60 $4,000. 900. has
only resulted In one million increase 10 the taxa
bio basi- in that period. What has become 81 the
remaining $1,000. 6UO that should have reduced
the amount of taxes one twelfth Of what they are
a; present, Is matter uf gres, concern 20 every
bona tide Taxpayer. Tho County Commissioner
must have allowed this property to escape taxa
ton OF the assessors have returned property as
liable 10 taxation, which. for some reason. was
exempt; In which case they should not have been
paid for assessing il.
showed In a former communication that the
jump frsm $4,000 last year to $4,000 this year
a. the estimate for court expenses was excessive
when compared with the estimates and disburse-
mcnis for the years lS5s. 80. so and 81. The
estimates for these four yeaFs we're $lOG 900, and
the disbursements S95. SlT.1S Thetax.paycrs Of
the county were taxei lO.lS2.22 more than was
required for court expenses. With this large ex.
cess having been paid, the County Commissioners
add 10000 more Co the estimate for court expen-
ses this year than what they were last year. But
this IL not the only item where they have been
leyying for more than j. necessary for current cx-
penses. The Commissioners have levied $4,000
for costs in removed cases. The taxpayer will
lind this item on the back OF his tax bill. II is
one that should hot be there. for he has already
paid far ia excess of what l. required for these
estimated costs. For the years 1873, 1879, ISsO.
l>Nl and lSs2. the levy for this item was for each
year respectively $1,000. $1,000. $1,000. $4,000
Ani 10000. 1t will he seen that for the past two
years and for the present year IL IL -. 900 year
NOR ttFf he n.
justify the increase made by the Commis sioners
the disbursements Tor the three previous years
should have exceeded the estimates. hut an ex.
animation oG the annual statements for these
years shows that the estimates. like those for the
court expense, were largely In excess Of what
was required. The total estimates for four years
were SIS. 0O0. and the disbursements for the same
length Of time were SS,7Ii.0I. or s9,255.96 more
than was required 10 meet this item Of expense.
The Commissioners ordered this excessive sur.
plus 10 he collected from the tax payers. aud after
they have Paid into the treasury 81, % % more
than they should have done for this expense. the
same Commissioners have rclc, icl 81 O0n ih. year
for costs in removed eases. They should not have
levied one dollar for this particular item when the
iaN.paycfs had already paid S9.2jj.g6 into the
treasury for u more than they should have paid.
For the two iicins Of cuur, expenses anil cost. for
removed eases the over bur,lcncl tax PAYERS have
paid Slg.iiS.l> more than they should have done
for four year,, because il WAS more than what was
required
II tc,rcnrhmcni AMI reform had been the motto
Of the Board Il County Cpmini..ioncts in their
management Of county nilaiTs the tax rate OF the
county would be only - cents on the $IOO in
place 81 80 cents rs at present Every mans tax
bill should be one-sixth less than What IL l. at
present. The man who now pays 5000 taxes
should have To- pay only si.uu. Taxes are ALWAYS
a burden, but whcn excessive amounts are let led
for items which 10 not justify them. sfccly
remedy should be applied 10 prevent them. The
taxpayers have that remedy IN their own hands
aud It remain. 60 be seen whether they will atply
it at the proper time. The County Commissioners.
;"r three years ending June LIT. lNN2. disburscI
S.'J.ai".iJ more than their estimates called for.
and whether the samc pruporiionAic excess Of dis.
buF'cmcnts over the estimates will mark the year
ending June lst. l>S.. will be seen when the an.
nual statement j. published.
Court expenses and costs in removed case. are
not the only items for which the tax payers have
been made g. pay more than what was required
TO meet the expense incurred. For lamps. oil
and gas, the County Cummis sionCts have levied
SlS.uuu. which i $4,000 more than they levied for
the same item last ycaF. For the year. ISIS lssa.
lN.o and ISL the total levy for lamps, oil aud
cns was SG'.ouo. and the disbursements for this
period were So, l?3.i?. The tax payers had to
pay for thi. itcin SG>uG.;i more than was neccs-
larry to meet the expense.
There should be redress sntneN here for this i'm.
position up"n tho tax payers of the county. In
the SlsnUn levied for lamps. oil and gas there is
sl.0oo Tor superintendent. a new office created
by the Board Of County Coinmissio to reduce
expenses. II they intended to reduce expenses
in this department Of the county service they
would have let the estimate remain at Si6.OUO.
which IL was last ysifs and wait to see whether
the superintendent would have saved 81 600 Of
this $4,000 TO pay for his salary. Instead Of
practicins economy in this way. they increase the
levy $4,000. TO make provision for the saving TO
be secured by this new Office holder. have shown
where the County Commissioncrs have wrung
from the over burdened tax. payers for court ex.
penses. costs in removed cases and lamps. OF! and
gas. S2G,2iiG9 more than they disbursed for these
three items. rigid economy would have saved
the taxpayers this large amount, but II wa. not
considered by them. a loose system Of levying
has been adopted and its practice has not failed
the Commissioners in the unnecessary incrcafc of
cents over the rate last year. There would have
been an ample return at % cents on the SiOO TO
NEE; all Necessary demands upon the county
treasury, including tho -. 900 FOR thc;ailiion TO
the Cugr; House and the new school house and
have something; left for con,in gent expenses. With
your permission may return 70 thi. subject in
future communication. Il.