The Yellowstone journal., 1894-10-20

Custer. this valuation was fixed at &C.,
600, we believe. and surely would ont be
any greater now, so that the account
would stand about as follows:
New county debit for one fourth
floating of bonded and
debt Of old county of. ........ $4,000 $4,000
New county credit for one
fourth Of value OF county
bulldings-..... .......-.+....- ~ub sio"VO
Net debt to start with......... SiO,0OJ
On this basis Of separation the follow
ing annual expenses would have to be
paid by the taxpayers Of the new county:
Interest on $4,000 81 per cent sI.3p ~
sinking fund To- retire 5000
bonds in ten years, per year. 900 "a
Salaries of county oiiicials.... ECO ~
Court expenses inc. iail exp 5.uo %
Expenses of maintaining the
several public offices, light
heat printing. etc c............. 6cOO 90
Total. .......- ....-....... s'Si,sD %
To meet this annual expense there
would have to levied on the 81 100000 of
. property in the new county tax of 22
mills not including the stock inspection
and indemnity taxes which would raise
1t to "A mills for stockmen. And even
tn : we claim is understated for the first
years expenses will necessarily include
the cost Of transcribing the records. and
the purchase Of complete Office outfit
of books. blanks and furniture that will
count up in the aggregate close TO
5000. which will necessitate an addi-
tional 80 mills tax or from 2jls TO 2Ii,
mills for the first year. Then we all
know how soon and how urgent become
the demand for court house and Jail
1t is a very modest county that thinks
10000 investment in this line any too
much. and few there are that get off that
cheap: but even 10000 borrowed say
on 20 year bon Is at q per cent interest
means an annual expense Of 81 800 for
sinking fund and 81 500 for interest-al-
together $500 which will necessitate
an additional - mills tax even II the
new county is lucky enough to hold its
assessment at the million and half
that it starts with. But how long can il
do this: How long will the owners Of
personal property that can be moved
without much expense. stay where their
taxes reach this large amount: As the
bulk Of the tax-paying property is OF this
class, il Is more than likely that il would
be moved off and that in few years the
only persons left 70 bear the burden OF
- -
the real estate owners. the merchants,
the ranchers, and those who could not
get away without sacrificing all they
had.
While it probably is not possible for
and county division scheme TO receive
recognition in our state Legislature for
some years to come. We think il proper
that its disadvantages should be set be
fore the people who are most interested
in it, and by this we mean the people Of
Forsyth. Its advantages If il has any
have no doubt been discussed in For
syth until every one is familiar with
them; now let them look at the other
side. We have not endeavored in any
way TO exaggerate the condition that
would be brought about by the creation
of this new county. The only item %
expense that does not fully explain
itself il the item Of salaries and this. We
would now state is the aggregate sum
provided by law as salaries in third
class county as will be seen boy reference
10 the compiled statutes. Now IL the
small taxpayers in Forsyth. the men who
pay taxes on every dollars worth that
they have got; if these men want county
divisions, all right: they have right to
become their own executioners. but II
they believe the truth Of the figures
given in this article. they will vote for
the republican nominees for the legisla-
ture ami not for those who are pledged !
to work a county division IL the oppor- !
tunity offers. 1t is true that 1.-THE taxes |
Of Custer county are high this year: un-
usually so. but still they are only 20 1
mills. Last year they we're l3 mills
the year befars - mills. and the Jump \
this year is mainly caused by the county |
having 10000 tied up in the bank
Next year the levy will go back 10 the
old figure and stay there or be lower.