Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-10-30
SPECIAL TAX PROPOSE rlON
some thing tn be Voted Upon at the
Coming Elrc ifon-.-A Matter Of Inter-
est 10 Tax. Payers aud Voters.

Coming Elrcifon-.- "A Matter Of Inter-
est TO Taxpayers aud Voters
Editor ARGUS:
Rock ISLAND, Ill Oct 90 The board
OF supervisors at its September meeting
decided to submit to the legal voters the
question of voting for or against special
tax of three mills on a dollar of assessed
valuation of property for the purpose OF
raising sufficient revenue TO defray the
current expenses of the county. to be
levied for period OF four years. 1t
seems proper to set forth the reasons why
this addition TO the regular authorized
levy OF seventy five cents on each one
hundred dollars valuation is needed. If
the property Of the county was listed at
its real value, the rate allowed by law
would produce more than twice the
amount needed to pay the current ex-
penses OF the county; but by following a
custom prevalent throughout the state the
assessed valuation of taxable property is
less than one third Of its actual value.
This being the case the levy allowed by
law will not produce sufficient sum OF
money TO pay the necessary current ex-
| penses of the county.
The average current expenses for -four
years last past have been $66 $40 per
annum, and cannot we'll be reduced be-
low this sum. 1t is estimated that the
authorized levy on the assessed valuation
for 1888. will produce about $52 900. and
the excess OF fees from county offices
| go KIM Tnto1 cd fnr "a.
year ending August 81, 1889, S54, 500
leaving probable deficiency OF ovel
SIC 900 Sept. l, 1889
On the first day OF January, 1888, the
county was iu possession of the regular
and special levies for the year 1887
which, when collected, yielded to tn,
county treasury SIT, 1873 10, and paid al
county Indebtedness up to the beginning
of the year, leaving the county out o
debt, but without money to pay the cur
rent expenses for the year 1888. To pa,
such expenses it has been necessary t,
borrow money to be paid out of the take
for 1888 when they are collected. So fa
the sum of $23, 000 has been borrowed
and paid out. As there will be an ex
cess of liabilities over receipts at the en-,
Of the wear, and when the taxes colecte,
are paid out, county orders can no longe
be paid in money, but must be hel,
over until next year. making it
deficit greater: and this state of affair
will continue to grow worse in followin!
years If the vote of the people result
in favor of the proposed special tax
will be extended on the tax books of 1888
and be collected in 1890 for the first time
but the fact of its provision would pre-
serve the credit of the county Shout
the vote be adverse to the tax, the couu
ty orders must be discredited and depre
ciate in value before the expiration of tn
present fiscal year.
Should the tax fail at this election,
will be two years before it can be agai
submitted, and if it then carries it will
extended on the tax book of 1891 an
collected In 1892, by which time larg
floating debt will have accumulated ar
the credit of the county be much in
paired. 1t is the best economy to pay tn
current expenses of each year out of tn
revenue Of the preceding year Whe
this can be done, the heavy charge on tn
treasury for interest on borrowed none
is avoided. this charge amounting durin
the four years last past TO S1,524 81 i
addition to the necessary current eY
penses. This desirable state of thing
cannot be brought about without spec
ial tax as asked for.
DANIEL GORDON,
Chairman of Finance Committee.