Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-02-28
TAXPAYERS MEETING.
SOME SENSIBLE SUGGESTIONS
SUBMITTED SATURDAY.

payers vi L uuI SUM SouiitI wis utlu ii
Columbia hall, Saturday afternoon, t(
receive and consider the report OF tn,
committee appointed at the meeting
OF the 7th inst. A. III. Chambers pre-
sided.
Two reports were submitted, the
maj ority statement being signed by
the whole committee and there were
Il few measures of financial reform
that Messrs. Young and Elswick
thought should have been included
which were excepted to by the re-
mainder of the committee. These
were submitted in minority report.
The full text of the first document
is a. follows:
Your committee to whom was referred
the examination of the county finances
and the recommendation of WAYS and
means to reduce the current expenses
and provide for the reduction of its float
ing Indebtedness, respectfully report that
We have given careful examination of
the matter, and consulted with the
HtNCl Ill tOuhiN oiiittlSs dS ld1 dS OUR lllllc
and opportunity would permit, with the
desire to recommend such measures as
could be practically carried out and if
possible meet their approval
We find that during the last three
years the revenue received from the an
nual tax rolls has rapidly diminished
During 1898 there were collected from
the tax rolls of 1892 on the general fund
the sum OF $50, 14S.25. During 1891 the
amount paid in the general fund from
the levy Of 1893 was $50 239 40 Il reduc-
ton of almost $4,000 from the previous
year. During the year 1919 the
amount collected on the general fund
levy of 1894 was only $40, 207.222 The
earnings for the county from fees col
lected in the three fee Offices during this
time was reduced from SIC, Ol997 in 1893
to s., 1886 in 1895.
This rapid reduction in taxes, and
great falling OFF OF the revenue in fees,
was entirely unexpected and the county
government WAS unable to reduce its ex-
penses in the ratio of the reduction in its
revenue. The floating Indebtedness in
1898 of SCI ,043,G5 was increased to o.
66l 33 in 1894, and to the sum of $780,
662. 96 in 1885.
Your committee are of the opinion
that, under the existing conditions of the
finances of the county and the diminished
revenue of our people, the current an
nual expenses of our county should be
made to come within the current annual
revenue; and that delinquent tax rolls
should be applied to the reduction of
outstanding floating Indebtedness.
The salaries of the Auditor, Treasurer,
Sheriff, Attorney, Clerk and Superin-
tendent as fixed by law amount to the
sum of 50, 300 annually. The annual in
terest on the county bonded indebted
ness amounts to $l2,5l2.
These two sums in the amount of sci :
Sl2 constitute a fixed charge over which
the county board have no control. All
other expenditures are more or less dis
cretlonary with the County Commits
sioners. Under ordinary prosperous
conditions, the amounts allowed the
various departments of the county gov
eminent during the past few years under
these discretionary powers of the coun-
ty board would not seem excessive.
But under the present depressed con-
dition of business affairs with our large
outstanding obligations, your committee
believe and know that the taxpayers de-
mand the most stringent economy in
county affairs and the maintaining of
the honor and credit of the county,
We recommend for your consideration
as follows:
First-That the Auditor be allowed
Deputy whose pay shall not exceed in
any one year one half of the cash fees
collected in the Auditors office in excess
OF $1,000, that is to say the Auditor
should earn for the county 81 900 in fee
work; one-half of the amount of fees
collected in the Auditors office over
and above 81 900 to be the sum allowed
in this Office for Deputy hire.
SecOnd-ln the office of Clerk, we rec
ommend that the Clerk be required to
earn for the county in fees the amount
of his salary, namely $1,000; that one
fourth OF the fees in his office in excess
of 81 600 be allowed for Deputy hire.
Third-In the Sheriff's office we rec
ommend the employment of one man to
act as Deputy and Tailor at salary of
$50 per month.
FOurth-For making the assessment
for the year 1896 we are of the opinion
the amount should not exceed 81 900.
Flfth-We recommend that the Treas
urer have one Deputy at salary not to
exceed $500 year.
Sixth-We believe that the minimum
amount OF new work should be done by
ways OF new roads and like improve
ments, and that the Surveyor be allowed
regular pay only when ordered by the
commissioner to do field work.
Seventh-We recommend that the en-
tire expenses of the County Commits
sioners shall not exceed $1,000 for the
year.
Eichth-We believe that the Superior
court can be sustained for the year at an
expense OF $4,000 including the salary of
the Judge.
Ninth-For the incidental expenses
for books, stationery, fuel, janitor, cleo
tons, repairs, paupers, &c, We recon-
mend the entire amount not to exceed
81, 900.
Tenth-We further recommend that
all delinquent taxes when collected be
applied to the reduction of outstanding
warrants.
Eleventh-That the current expenses
be paid from the taxes collected from
the rolls OF 1895 and other revenue of
1896. The current expenses as herein
recommended are as follows:
800 ~ '.............. ...$l2,0l2
So,oiS "a omSefs ...-....... $500
Salary Judge Superior Court 500. 1900
Deputies, as above recommended and
based on fee-work Of last year -. 2,IG0
ioiui ''.-..s .-....-....... ........-... S2h,412
Less fees based on last year ...... 5,4ss
s2l,Oli
This leaves $2l, ola to be derived from
the taxes collected from the tax lew of
1895 and applied as above Indicated.
Your committee believe that this plan
as above outlined is not only practical,
but is fair and just to all parties in
terested in county affairs.
1t practically provides for the payment
OF the fixed annual charges in cash from
the current revenues of the county.
At the same time, this plan provides
for the payment of outstanding warrants,
in an easy and equitable manner by APP
plying all delinquent taxes to the reduc-
ton OF now outstanding warrant in
debtedness.
We estimate that by so doing and