The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-04-21
THE ANNUAL STATEMENT By
THE BOARD OFCOCNTY
COMMISSIONER

4
Jury on this subject is not quite
clear. They say that, in Shocking
over the books of the Treasurer and
Clerk of the Boarl," that they find
"no i,emized statement of the re-
ceip,s and expenditures Of the coun-
| ". From this it has been inferred
tina, the omission I" publish an an.
nual statement as the law directs, is
the fault OF the clerk and treasurer
Of the county. This is an erroneous
impression. They have nothing,
officially, to do with the matter. As
far rs their accounts are concerned,
and the duties they are required 10
perform in connection herewith.
we have nothing specially TO do.
They are doubtless all right. 1t Is
the Board Of County Commission
crs that is required TO make out, or
cause to be made out, "a full and
complete statement Of all moneys
collected by the county tax, or 9th.
WISE" and "lhc disbursement Of the
same, stating the name Of each per-
son to whom, and upon what ac.
count the same was paid, and the
date of said payment" etc.
The County Clerk and Treasurer
and all the other officials Of the
county, for anght We know to the
contrary, are keeping an accurate
account Of all moneys received and
disbursed in THEN respective offices,
and render to the County Board,
whenever required, a faithful cx-
hibit of the same but all this has
nothing to do with the annual state
men, required by law to DO pub.
lished by the Board Of County Com
missioners.
The annual exhibit the Board is
required to publish, is for the in
formation Of the public. The tax
payers want to know what use is
made Of the money they pay into
the public treasury each year, and
for what purpose it is paid OUT
and the law distinctly says that tho
County Board of Commissioners
shall furnish its information by
making an itemizcd statement
There is no discretionary power in
the premises. The law is manda
tory, and does not admit Of any
evasion.
The Grand Jury meant to be
clear on the subject. When they
spoke of the accounts Of the clerk
and treasurer and the absence of an
itemized statement from them, the,
had reference, of course, to the cx
hibit the law requires that Tho
County Board shall annually make
For the information Of all con
cerncd We herewith append the Law
on this subject. 1t is SO pontct
and emphatic in its terms that there
need not be any misunderstanding
relative to its meaning. Ii is a
follows:
Section,. The board Of county com
missioners Of tho respective counties o
{ Of this State shall bc, and they are here
by required to make out. at their frs
regular sitting in every year, full an,
complete statement Of all monies collect
ell by county tax, or otherwise receive,
for county purposes, and the dishurse
4. ment Of the same; stating the name o
each person, tn whom and upol
. what account the same was paid
c and the date of said payment
aud they shall cause at least tw
copies Of the same to I've posted in two q
( the most public places in the said coun
:, ty, one Of which shall he tlccJurt house
and II there is a newspaper published i
n said county, they shall cause pull lica
y ton Of the said statement to lT made
|. provided the expense Of such publica
4 ton shall not exceed the sum of ten dol
, lars.
Sec. 3. The said board of count
commissioners, shall he, and they ar
/ hereby required. to deliver to the fore
:, man of the grand jury, copy of sal,
Il statement, at the first session of the eli
a cult court vt said county next cnsuin
the term specified for making out sal
u statement. and it shall be the duty G
4 said grand jury to examine into the co,
rectness of said statement, and repor
II thereon to the judge presiding at sal
8 court. Chapter 40, page 81, Mcclellan
Digest Of the Laws Of Florida.
One word as TO the kind of state
!. ment the law contcmplatcs shall b
q made. 1t should be in detail, tabu
:. lating all items, showing the sourc
s of the receipts and for wha, pul
J pose disbursements were made. !
F, should be borne in mind that it i