The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-10-01
An Estimate OF the Amount of Rev
enue Niece ssary for County and
School PURPOSES this Year.

will convene in regular session to-day,
and among other important matters that
will come before it for consideration is
the question of revenue necessary for
county and school purposes for the pres
ent fiscal year. 1t is well understood
that a reasonable reduction of taxes can
be made this year. There is a surplus in
the treasury, and, therefore, no neces-
sity for so great an aggregate revenue.
To what extent it will be wise to reduce
the rate can only be definitely settled by
a thorough investigation into the nsces-
sites of the county for official uses. a
careful estimate can be made of the rev.
enue necessary for each department.
| There will be, no doubt. slight
increase in the expenses of the
criminal and school departments of
the county, but, probably, none in any
of the others. If, on the other hand,
rigid economy is insisted on in ali de-
partments, the aggregate cost of run
ming the county would not be any great
er than last year. The question of re-
trenchment in public expenditure is
very important one, but we feel entirely
certain that our Commissioners can be
trusted to see that economy is thoroughly
enforced. They have shown commend
able results in this direction during the
past year.
| The estimates that we submit here
with are based on figures compiled from
the offices of the State Comptroller and
! Of lah ~
aggregate valuation of the county was
$4,000. 900. and the tax, for county pur-
poses, was three mills on the dollar.
We have not before us the valuation
will be about 100000 more than last
year. The totals were not completed at
the time this article was written, but
we believe they will not exceed $780,
600. If the total valuation is increased
it Will only make our argument stronger
for a reduction of the rate.
Last year the rate of taxation was
three mills. On valuation of $1,000
600, this would create revenue of S10,-
500. IF the same rate is made this year
az last, our revenue will be as follows:
Three mills on s. GCn.OU0 so 500 90
One-hslt mill for county roa's l.s0I 90
one IN III al 500 W
!, 800 rolls = TO county 80 20
Total sl6,s5O 90
Add present surplus on hand . 90 %
Mas inq-for county total this year s:S,9-O 90
This is more revenue than we want for
county purposes. If the board was to
raduca tba rota tu-O mill. thar, would
be a saving of 1900. This amount de-
Quoted from the total as above would
leave SIC, 700, sum ample for all pur-
poses for the year. The expenditure for
the year ending October 1st, 1885, was
$13, 1873, and for last year a sum not
to exceed $4,000. Clearly $3.50 added
to this sum would enable the affairs of
the county to be administered with due
regard to the wants of the public.
IL we add the amount derived from
licenses, we should not be surprised if
the Board could reduce the rate fully
three mills. Three mills and the amount
on hand would create a revenue of
$l3, $50. Add to this 81 800 from licenses
and we have an aggregate amount of
S14 ESQ for county purposes. But from
this and the above estimates must be de-
Quoted the insolvent taxes, $3.50. This
would leave the amount necessary for
this year at S14 200.
RECAPITULATIoN.
County tar on $500 O0l at mills SI0sO0 90
County road, y mill on S3,6OO,OD1 500 20
County special. mill on S5,6O0,O-0 5000 90
l,5OO polls-I@ 10 county 80 90
Total - sI6.a5O 90
Amount surplus on hand 1000 90
Saving hS5i by mills reduction on $500, '''O -
OUO s,sU0 w
.sl6,75O 90
I'm i 5 600 90 !
leaving for expenses of fiscal year Sl3I5O 90 !
License to be added l,500 % |
Total sl4.s5o 90
For school purposes a decided re-
duction can also be made and not in
terfere with the efficiency of the schools. |
A three mills levy would produce $40, 800. |
The present surplus in the hands of the |
Treasurer of the School Board is So, 674.- |
As. Add to this the distribution of
State from the l mill tax $500 and
81, 800 from the school interest fund.
and we have for the present school year
SIS, 2114S. THIS is greater sum than
is actually required for the schools. At
least one-haIf mill could be taken off.
If two and one-half mills only were
levied the sum created from all sources
would be SIC, 4744s.
Therefore, instead of Civ ing the schools
of the county five mills, as has been
asked for, q mills is ample for all prac
teal purposes. If the schools of the
county cannot be run on SIG, 474 some of
them had as well be closed up. The
amount expended for schools for the