The herald., 1893-09-21
INTERESTING TO TAXPAYERS,
Cost of the Tax Roll in This and
Other Counties.
Why DOES Government Cost More
Here Thau Mlsewheres
what the Auditors of Some Northern
Counties Report as to Expenses.
One Man who Does all tho
Work Himself.

The Citizens league has learned that
County Auditor Lopez proposes charging
more than 20 CO nte per average page for
extending the tax roll, and believing
that 10 cents a pnge on an average would
be nearer the real value OF the work, the
league sent the following letter to few
counties in order to ascertain the cost Of
the work there:
Los ANGELES. CAL, Sept. IA. 1898.
Hon. W. A. Whidden, Auditor Alameda county,
Cal:
DEAR SIR-By answering the following
questions you will confer great favor
on the undersigned organization. For
convenience please iill out the blanks or
questions. Any charge for same will be
cheerfully met bv
Yours truly,
CITIZENS LEAGUE.
l. How many volumes OF your county
assessment roll are there for 1898?
Ans. Thirty-four, including one per-
sonal property roll.
2. How many pages in each volume?
Ans. Average 230 pages.
3. How much is the estimated cost of
carrying out the taxes and footing the
same this year and making the same
ready to turn over to the tax collector on
the first Monday in October?
Ans. s71930.
4. How many men do you employ in
the work?
Ans. Thirty.
8. How many pages will man aver
age per day?
Ans. Seyenty-five pages.
6. What do you estimate the levy will
be in your county this year? in cities
and also in the county tincluding road
taxi?
Ans. State and county rate. inside,
81; outside, $l.35.
z. How many school districts have
you to levy special tax and bonds for?
Ans. Eighteen schools, bond and
special tax.
s. Please mail to me sheet or blank
page OF your assessment roll.
8. What do you pay per day for above
work?
Ans. $685..
The above includes taking off the road
and school districts and figuring the
special school taxes.
This estimate is made by allowing
eeyen days in which to do the work.
NJ. A. WHIDDEN,
Auditor Alameda county.
OFFICE OF AUDITOR AND RECORDER, !
GEORGE E. HoUUsKEN,
Auditor and Recorder.) +
STOCKTON, CAL, Sept. IS, 1898.
Citizens League, Los Angeles, CAL:
GENTLEMEN-Your OF the 18th inst.
duly at hand, and l have filled in an
swers on blank, but suppose that you
will be rather surprised at them, judg-
ing from an article I read in one of Oak
lands papers giving the cost of your
county government.
As county recorder l receive salary
of $4,000 and as auditor $500, making
$4,000 per annum. l am allowed one
deputy at $1,000 and two copyists at 5000
each per annum.
pay into the county treasury on an
average of $4,000 per annum in fees.
We do not make duplicate assessment
rolls, thereby saving that expense, and
have for the last five years computed
the taxes all alcne. Of courae, we have
always had convenient rate for fgur-
ing.
l have mailed to you under another
cover page OF the original and one of
the delinquent roll. There are a couple
of changes in them, but the principal
part of them is there and can be readily
understood.
You will observe that the first delin-
quency is on the original roll; therefore
do not have the work OF making out
two delinquent rolls, but only the one,
which is done the laet OF April. after
the second installment becomes delin-
Quent.
On the original roll the value of per-
sonal property and money is extended
of itself. and all the real estate in one
total; thereby making but two extern
sions for each name.
l also enclose one of our tax receipts.
The ruling OF the rolls, also the form of
receipt, are my own get up, and as yet
have not seen a more convenient one.
Yours truly, GEO. E. HoUsKEN.
/. How many volumes of your county
assessment roll are there for 1893?
Three (3).
2. How many pages in each volume?
Two hundred and fifty (250).
8. How much is the estimated cost of
carrying out the taxes and footing the
same this year and making the same
ready to turn over to the tax collector
on the first Monday in October?
No extra cost over the regular ealary.
A. How many men do you employ to
do the work?
do the work myself.
S. How many pages will man aver
age per day?
About one hundred and fifty l50.)
&. What do you estimate the levy
will be in your county this year in cit
les and also in the county, including
road tax?
Outside incorporated cities, $3.50; in
side incorporated cities, $1.121a; differ
ence being 1711a cents road tax.
7. How many school districts have
you to levy special tax and bond taxes
for2
Three (3).
s. Please mail to me sheet or blank
page of your assessment roll.
Mailed under separate cover.
8. What do you pay per day for above
wOrk ?