Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-29
WHERE THE TAX MONEY GOES,
Some Interesting Facts About
the County Finances.
The Union Leagues Salary Receipts
During the Year.
Why the Supervisors Delayed Fixing
the Tax Rate-The Amount Of
Money 1t Takes to Pay
the County's Officers.

The fact that the board of supervisors
have fixed the tax rate for this county
at 81. 45 on every $lO0 worth of property
outside Of incorporated cities, had led
to considerable talk about the manner
in which the board arrived at this con-
clusion, and how they permitted the
fixing of the rate to 60 until the very
last day allowed by law in which to
name it.
The truth of the matter is that the
board had, two weeks ago, known that
in order to meet the expenses of the
Union League oligarchy which has been
established on court house hill, it would
be necessary to fix rate on taxation
this year that would be simply
appalling. That is to cay that
the rate would have to be
placed 30 high that the taxpayers would
have the fact brought directly home to
them that to maintain something like
120 members of the Union League in the
court house and on the public pay rolls,
was after all quite burden.
So while the rate was decided upon
fully two weeks ago, it was agreed by
the Republican board of supervisors
that it should not be made public until
it became finally necessary for the board
to act.
1t did become absolutely necessary for
the board to act last Monday. Then
they officially passed upon the rate and
it was made public. 1t was $1.20 on
every 500 worth of property within in
corporated cities, and $1.45 for every
$l00 worth OF property without incor-
porated cities.
The HERALD yesterday drew attention
to the fact thatin the auditors estimate
Of the county'e expenses for tho coming
year, but $25, 900 had been ser aside to
pay salaries. This was true, and in
making the comments the paper did
there was no desire to cast any reflection
upon Gen. 81. G.. Rollins, the present
county auditor, who, after brief term
of Office, has been set aside by Repub-
lican convention OF reformers for f. E.
Lopez, who has for four years acted as
city auditor, and who has not made for
himself in that capacity a signal reputa-
tion as being able to realize, understand
or appreciate the duties and responsible
tiles of his position.
The reason General Rollins only set
aside $25 900 for salaries in his estimate,
was owing to the fact that all the reve-
nue. the county receives in the way of
fees, commissions, etc., goes into the
salary fund.- Any sensible man knew
that to apportion $25 900, call it the sal
ary fund OF this county for one year, and
expect it to liquidate all demands that
would be made for salary in IL months,
was the sheerest folly.
The following is a detail of the condi-
tion Of the salary fund for the coming
year as anticipated by General Rollins:
Demands for IL months $I55, 1000
Estimated receipts fees,
Com missions received BY ~
Bsianss on hand in salary 49,
fund. ...-..........-........ 10000
Amount necessary to raise. $4,000
The item above referred to for COM
mission-$10 ,000-means sums the coun-
tv receives from the collection of state
taxes, etc.
County Auditor Rollins states that
during the IL months last past this
county paid out for salaries, most of