The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-10-25

1
statement of the yearly receipts anC
expenditures on account of the genera
fund for the same years, marked exhibit
B. OF the court house and jail fund
marked exhibit c.; of the road and bridge
fund,marked exhibit d; and of the schoo
teachers fund, marked exhibit E.
To show in the main the disposition Of
the general fund and the bulk of the de.
mands upon the same, the committee also
append statements for the same years OF
the following auxiliary accounts:
Salaries and fees, marked exhibit F.
Paupers and charities, marked ex-
hibit G.
County jury scrip, marked exhibit II
District jury scrip, marked exhibit l.
Feeding and guarding prisoners, marked
exhibit j.
Feeding jurors, marked exhibit X.
SOME THANKS.
Your committee wish to acknowledge
the cooperation of the county officials
who, without exception, rendered all the
assistance possible, both by exhibiting
their books at all times, and by such ex-
plantations as were needed
The financial ledger kept by the county
clerk is the most important of the county
books, as it is compendium of the &C
counts of all county officials, is made up
from the quarterly or monthly reports to
the commissioners court, and from it the
condition of the county finances can be
told at glance.
| LITTLE OFF.
We observe, however, that the usefulness
of this book is somewhat impaired by the
fact that all officers, notably the justices
of the peace do not, as required by law,
file prompt and full reports of transac-
tions in their respective offices.
The reports of the more important
offices are, however, found to be prompt,
regular and full
We observe too that some of the old &C.
counts on this ledger which are in reality
closed appear to be opened because OF
the neglect of the officers to have their
credits allowed by the commissioners
court and filed with the county clerk.
With these exceptions, which are beyond
the control of the county clerk, this finan-
cial ledger is we'll kept, properly balanced
and substantially as the law requires.
THE PRESENT CONDITION.
AS to the present financial condition of
the county, the committee find that there
are outstanding:
Fix per cent bonds. ...................S 74OOO 20
Ten per cent warrante ......"".,... 1000 70
Eight per cent warrants .-"....... $500 90
Eight per cent warrants il, l95 90
Of the above $4,000 of per sent bonds
were issued on account of the iron bridge
at the foot of Congress avenue.
The $1,000 of 10 per cent warrants
represent a loan to that amount with
Messrs. Jas. H. Raymond Co., on &C
count of the road and bridge fund, and is
to that fund and against its
receipts for the ensuing year.
The $4,000 of per cent warrants issued
to o. M. Roberts as part of the purchase
money of land for the poor farm are
charge against the general revenue fund,
and are now due.
The $13,195 of 8 per cent warrants
were issued in payment for the
new iron work In the Jail and
were drawn against the general
revenue fund. Whether they are properly
chargeable to this fund, to be paid out of
its ordinary revenue, or to the court house
and Jail fund, 70 be met by special court
house and Jail tax, or whether they will be
met by a new issue of county bonds, is a
matter for the future determination of the
commissioners court.
In addition to the above, the county has
contracted for new bridge across the
Colorado river at a cost of $4,000, which
amount is expected to be raised upon
bonds of the comfy.
The committee found with satisfaction
that in the main the county finances have
been wisely and ecor omicslly admins
tered, and the various funds used with due
regard to their respective revenues.
YOURS WITH REGRETS.
We regret, however, that of late this con-
dition has not been maintained. By a
reference to exhibit B it will be seen that
there has been in the last two years con-
increase in the expenditures on
account OF the general fund without a cor
increase of receipts, the re-
ceipts for the two years, ending with the
August term of the commissioners court
in the year 1888, being $77,549.79, and the
expenditures for the same period being
SS3, 3S2.12.
CHEERFUL PAUPEBs.
This disproportion seems to be chiefly
attributable to an increase in the two
items of salaries and fees and pagers and
charities, The expenditures, on account
of the former, for the two years ending
September 80, 1886, being $10,977.14, and
for the two following years 21,565.S3,
while the expenditures on account of pau
pers and charities sre for the same pc
RODS respectively $15,439.52 and ST.
1870.
The general revenue fund is at present
exhausted. In fact, as is shown above, is
indebted to the treasurer in the sum of
1886.
1t is further indebted to the road and
bridge fund in the sum of $4,000 Dor
rowed from that fund, and which is
charge upon the incoming revenues.
LOOKING AHEAD.
This condition of the general fund has
induced the committee to undertake an
estimate for the next twelve months from
the treasurer's quarterly report to the
commissioners court at the August term,
1888, which Is as follows:
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS.
Ad ysorem taXes.... ........... S25,OUu w
Occupation taxes ......"....., o,UV w
POOrtarm.. oOu w
bsThys. loO w