The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-18

Total Indebtedness. $500. 1929, 021 "a
Less cash in county funds. 1892 40
Net indebtedness, Dec. 1, 1896 s16s, Os9 "a
Net Indebtedness, Dec. /, 1894. 147,126 %
Increase of debt during years 20,973 q
II. has been customary in the past to
make up the annual balance sheet on
March l of each year, but the new
codes require to be made on Dec in
the future. The above exhibit covers
three months included in the statement
made March last, and as a result is a
partial duplication of figures to that
extent. However, the report represents
the financial operations of the IL
months Immediately preceding Dec.
of this year. and as a result is a valu-
able summary of county finances for
the period named.
Referring to the exhibit and the in
creasing indebtedness of the county,
the River Press says editorially:
THE summary of the annual finan-
cial statement of Choteau county will
be of interest to those effected thereby
which includes every citizen owning
property subject to taxation. The ex-
hibit shows that county expenditures
during the past IL months have exceed
ed revenues in the sum of nearly
S21,00O.
There may be some difference of
opinion as to the necessity of running
into debt at the rate of over $1,70O per
month, and brief review of the situa-
ton will not be out of place under the
circumstances
THE running expenses of county
government are indicated by the
amount of warrants issued, which the
exhibit states was s70,32S during the
past IL months. The interest paid ON
outstanding bonds and the accruing in
terest on outstanding warrants do not
figure in that amount, but as II re-
quires nearly $1,000 annually to meet
these demands, the total expenses of
Choteau county for the year ending
Dec. l, 1895, were about $S1, 900.
1t appears from the record that
county expenses have been growing
larger from year to year of late, the
ratio of increase being shown by the
amount of warrants issued during each
period of twelve months covered by the
respective annual statements. For
the year 1890 the amount of war
rants issued was $53,46S; in 1890
warrants to the amount of $751;
235 were issued, and in 1892 the war
rant issue amounted to $66S15. UP to
that time what is now Teton county
was part of Choteau county, and the
assessable property within the latter
was about six million dollars.
I'm 1898, after the segregation of
what is now Teton county, the war
rants issued in payment of Choteau
county's current expenses amounted to
lbs; in 1894 the amount increased to
s65,762, and for the past twelve months
reached $70,32s-the highest point re-
corded.
1T is just and necessary to remark
in this connection that many extraor-
binary expenditures have been impos-
ed upon Choteau and other counties by
the operation of the new laws-a COM
pliance with which called for an out
lay which will not occur again. At the
same time expenditures have been so
largely in excess of receipts during the
past two years as to cause apprehen-
sion regarding the future. No individ-
ual, corporation or government can
continually live beyond it's means,
and the probable income having been
ascertained, the safe business plan is
to bring expenditures within the limit
THE county government has been
embarrassed during the past twelve
months in the matter of raising money |
for school purposes. No statutory pro-
vision was made for securing funds |
under the new laws now in operation, |
and II was found necessary to obtain |
school money from sources of taxation |
that were intended for general county |
purposes. The limit of taxation |
lot county purposes is 10 mills. /
and one-half mill was also levied for |
a bridge fund. This year only 1914
mills of the tax levy supplied funds for /
actual county expenses. producing a
revenue of about $4,000. The reve- /
nue. from licenses, we believe,
to about $1,000 annually. and l
cash items would in
crease the total county income for the
year to a little over 100000. With
call for about $4,000 annually on war
rant and bond interest account. il
would appear necessary TO restrict gen.
eral county expenses to $4,000 per year
II a further increase of Indebtedness
Is be prevented.
I'VE believe the present board of
is DESTROYS of conduct
ing county affairs with as much econ
omy as is consistent with good and
efficient local government. 1t devolves
upon the members of the board 70
guide the county through the difficult
ties by which IL is beset.' and while
the solution Of the problem is a hard |
Dne. we believe they will exert them
selves TO the utmost TO make bott |
apds meet during the enSuin0 fu-els-s |