The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-09-08
TayeS To he Reduced.

We believe it has been decided by our
Board of County Commi sioners that a
reduction of the rate of taxation can he
last fiscal year has just closed, and after
paying all obligations, includ 'ng the
cost of the new Jail, there will be sur
plus in the County Treasury of $1,000.
1t is rightly decided that there is no ne
cessity for any surrlus,-that only sutfic-
lent revenue should be raised to meet
the current expenses of the county gov
eminent, economically administered.
The amount of reduction will probably
not be less than two mills. The va,ua-
ton of the taxable property will be
about the same as last year. This re-
duction, therefore, will make a very per-
ceptible difference in the aggregate
amount of taxes that will be required
from the property -holders for the coming
year.
The amount that will be appropriated
for school purposes will be the same as
last year. three mills. This will yield
about $4,000, which, added to the
amount that " i'll be received from the
State, will give the School BOaId
Sl5, 900 and over, sum sufficient, it is
believed to run the schools of the county,
for the coming school term, on fairly
liberal basis. The School Board has put
in a request for $50, 900, but this estimate
is to cover the expense of one or more
school houses. But the Board of Com
missioners will not appropriate SO largea
sum for that purpose. Our Commits
sioners do not think it a wise thing to in
augurate the policy of building school
houses at the county's expense. They
believe it better for each school district
to provide for its own school house,
either by taxation of the property within
the district, or by voluntary contribu-
ton from the citizens. They contend
that it is not prudent or economical for
a general levy to be made for this pur-
pose and pay for the cost of collection,
when each district can do it better for
itself and save the expense necessarily
attending the work of assessment and
collection. Besides, the re is no reason,
and, perhaps, justice, IN the plan of re-
qui ing one portion of the county to pay
for the erection of a school-house in an
other portion. All money that is not
absolutely necessary for the current e.r-
peisses of the county should be left, as
the commissioners contend, in the pock-
cts of the people, and all enterprises,
such as building school houses, should
be left to the action of people interested.
The Commissioners believe in popular
education. Int contend that school
houses can be built more rapidly and
economically by the districts than by the
county. The labor of assessing property
and collecting taxes ia expensive, and it
goes without question that the citizens of
a district or neighborhood can save this
much by doing their own work. So, too,
in building houses. 1t is better and
cheaper for parties Immediately inter
ested to erect their own houses than
leave it to the county-they can do the
work better, and; beyo doubt, at much
less cost.
1t would seem from the foregoing that
our County Board of Commissioners has
fully settled on the plan of appropriating
only sufficient money to carry on tine
schools and leave the business of build
ing school houses to the districts.
Since, then, this is the plan. we agree
with the commissioners that there is no
necessity for "A surplus revenue, and the
taxes should be reduced to basis cor
responding to the actual necessities of
the county. Two mills will be none too
great a reduction.
People will differ as to the best course
to pursue in relation to school matters,
but none will find ground to criticise the
policy of the County Board in their eff
forts to carry out faithful and eco
nomical plan for administering the gem
erHl affairs of the county. Economy has
been their aim from the beginning, so
far as it could be done in connection
with vigorous enforcement of the law
and a thorough administration of public
affairs. The present Board has per-
formed we'll its duty in this respect, and
deserves, rs it must receive, the hearty
approval of the tax payers. We believe
the present Board to be one of the most
upright and faithful in the in
terest of the people that Putnam county
has ever possessed.