The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-12-08
THE COUNTY FINANCES.

SIdfSSv t-ANA iAAOSp WI t-S-> ''St~ w ~
fore the tax payers, and for the earn
est investigation OF our Legislators at
Columbia. To those citizens familiar
with the county affairs, it is evident
that the finances are in most alarm
ing and wretched condition. Com
mencing with, and including the fs-
cal year, 1882, to the present time,
the County Commissioners have been
sorced, in meeting the current ex-
penses, to contract debts hundreds
Of dollars in excess Of the tax money
collected to liquidate obligations of
this character, which are aenomina-
ted Ordinary county expenses"
The result of this has been, notwith-
standing an annual special tax levy
to settle the unpaid claims, to create
a large and increasing debt; and
worse still. to completely demoralize
the credit Of the county We hazard
the assertion that, on account Of this
damage to its credit, the Commission
ers frequently find it impossible to let
out work for less than so per cent. of
its actual cost. Again, the effect OF
this is blazingly apparent when what
are known as "Unpreferred claims"
are offered for sale, and so per cent.
is the highest amount given.
The following balances for the 6s-
cal years 1928 and 4 remained u,n-
paid after the tax collections for the
respective years were disbursed:
Fiscal year 1SS2-S1,507.S3.
Fiscal year 1881, $4,000.
Fiscal year 1852, ,O3S00.
The balance of 50 has since been
paid in full by special levys- A half
mill tax was collected to pay the bal
ance Of 'S3, which, being disbursed,
left 5000 unpaid, and now owing.
For the deficiency of 'S5, by act
of the Legislature, certain unezpend-
ed balances in the County Treasury
were applied thereto, with a special
tax levy Of one mill, which rednced
the debt down to $3.50 owing now.
Notwithstanding the application OF
an annual special tax, and a consider
able sum of money, which, fortunate
ly, happened to be idle in the charge
of the Treasurer, there IS still a debt
of a thousand and fifty dollars against
she county, standing from the years
,s3 and 'S4.
1his brings US down to the last fs-
cal year-1Ss5-ending s1st OF last
October.
In discharging the necessary du-
ties Of their Office, the County Com
missioners, as viii be seen by their
report recently published, were fore
Led, during the fiscal year just ended,
to approve claims aggregsting S7,724,
so. Since the publication Of the re-
port number of additional claims
have been approved, and before the
last claim is handed in, it is safe to
conclude that the total Indebtedness
will amount to $4,000 and over. How
ever, to be sure that we are giving a
perfectly true statement of the coun-
tys financial condition for the fiscal
year, 1885, we will accept the publish
ed report as basis Of representation.
The Auditors abstract, which is o
summary OF the propsrty of the coun-
Sy, estimates the total taxable proper
ty at $1,4S5,172. To meet the ex-
penses of the fiscal year ending last
October, and to pay which the pres
ent taxes are being collected, the Leg
islature for 1885 provided tax levy
OF four mills The utmost amount to
be realized by this levy, when the
taxes to a cent are paid, which is nev-
er the case, is $5,94O.6S. To this
amount can be added about S4OO for
licenses and fines, which foots up
$6,340.6a. Thus, with the most lib
eral calculation, we have the sum
.$7,92490 to be PAID with $6,340.6S;
and what is the result When all the
money received by the Treasurer is
paid out there will yet remain un-
paid the large sum of 81, ,5S4,22. This
isa debt against the county, and viii
have to be paid by a special tax levy
for the purpose. Thus, like the last
three years, the county is sunk heav-
lily in debt. It's credit is being hope
lessly destroyed, and unless a change
is soon made it is hard to tell what
will be the final consequences. It is
economic, and has now become an ab-
solute necessity, that the annual ez-
penses be promptly paid at the end
OF each year. In our Judgment this
can be accomplished in three ways:
1st- To reduce the county expens-
End. To make the tax ley su&-
cient to pay the Indebtedness of each
fiscal year.
5rd, To increase the assessment
OF property.
The first would be the most pcpu-
lar, but at present we cannot see how
1t is practicable. At the present val
uation OF property, the second is the
most available plan, and the pres
ent Board Of County Commissioners,
aftar f,,roicb;,r 49,, E