The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-21
THE COUNTY FINANCES
The Extensive Reduction Made in It's Indebt-
edness Under the Present Management.

Yesterday afternoon Journal reporter met
Mr.. Frederick Ostermeyer, president of the
Board of County Commissioners
"a typographical mistake in the Journal.
said Mr.. Ostermeyer, ''had led the Sentinel into
making laundering attack on the board that
feel ought to be met by a showing of figures.
The mistake Of the Journal was in saying that
So, 765 will be paid monthly for salaries at the
workhouse. That is the amount to be paid per
year. not per month. With this blunder as a
basis the Sentinel goes on to make the statement
that Ostermeyer has increased the debt of the
county $500, 900 by the construction of the new
work-house. Now the reverse is true, as you can
see by an examination of the figures in the
county auditors Office"
The bonded debt OF the county was 5000, 900
when Mr.. Ostermeyer came on the board in De-
cember, 1882. The interest averaged over per
cent on this amount, and the interest account
of 1882 was over $50, 900. Under the administra-
ton of the present board $780, 900 of this amount
has been refunded at lower rate of interest
ranging from A to A per cent.,-so that the in
terest account this fiscal year. ending May 8,
1886, will be $4,000. The saving is
nearly SAC, 600 year on interest alone. When
Mr.. Ostermeyer came on the board there was
over SlOO, 600 of floating Indebtedness in short
time loans. These, and legacy So. 500 attorn-
eys' fees left from the preceding board, have all
been paid off.
The money expended for the building of
brldges-the contracts were let before Mr.. Oster-
meyer became a member of the board-amount-
ed to 900, the larger amount of which was
not paid, and which was left for the present board
to pay. The expenses for 1882 and part Of 1883
the fiscal apdinp
$4Ol, I57. 80 for county purposes, a large amount
OF which had been contracted six months before
Mr.. Ostermeyer was member. The am cunt
exnended for the fiscal year ending May 81.
1889, was 1904, l3l. 83-showing nearly 100000
difference, in one years expenses, in favor of the
economy of the new board.
The commissioners, Messrs. Ostermeyer, Gin
ton and Guyon, have built the work house out
OF the general fund; not one dollar has been
borrowed, aud no indebtedness has been in
Cured on account of the construction of the
house.
The Commissioners have received, this year
$2Sl, 0O2-the spring instalment of taxes for
county purposes. The other half will be collect
ed IN two weeks. On the latter haf-year's
taxes. the Commissioners have borrowed 500 600
to meet expenses until the second installment of
taxes is received. The next Board of
commissioners, thanks to the excellent financial
management of the present board will enter
upon the duties of their office under more favor
able circumstances than have been vouchasefed
to any previous board for many long year.
They may feel particularly favored, so far as the
work house is concerned, as that institution will
be ready to their hand and in frst-class running
order.
In explanation of some of the legacy of debt
which encountered the present board upon their
entry into Office, it should be said that the Board
of County Commissioners, In 1879, made levy
of 10 per cent, which was much too low. This.
with the collection from the delinquent tax list
OF the preceding year, realized to the county a
collection of 1892, 04l. 3D. while the total expendi-
tnres for county purposes for the same year were
$685. 643, 40. This shows deficit of $103 600,
and this deficit has been carried from that time
on until the present board, which has wiped it
out entirely