The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-12
COUNTY FINANCE.
Tax Levy Is Again Up to the
Limit.
Something Seems Wrong With
System of Taxation.
NOT REVENUE ENOUGH
Has Been q Continued Shortage
In County Expenses.
Effort Being Made to Adjust
the Machinery.
NOT REVENUE ENOUGH

Tho county tax levy for general revenue
IN Shawnee county for the coming year
viii be mills, the same as last year, and
the limit allowed by law. The total as
sessed valuation of all taxable property in
the county amounts to $15,239, 066, and on
this valuation a 5 mill levy will raise
general revenue fund OF S76 1888. This is
a little more than $500 above the general
revenue fund of last year.
One of the bad features of the present
system Of taxation is shown by the 1act
that If the county had no other revenue
than that derived from taxation Il would
have run in debt more than $4,000 last
year just for current expenses, although
the levy was up to the limit The eX
penditures for the fiscal year ending June
30. as shown by the annual report OF w.
E. Pagan, county auditor, which has just
been filed with the county clerk, amount
alton was only so. 6o2s9. leaving denelt
of S2l.555.10. Last year this deficit was
state for caring for the poor. and other
sources which turn money into the gem
eral revenue fund.
There are some years, however, when
ciil5 1-iG i VIII no{ maze up aHe aen-
that outstanding warrants have accumu-
~ $40 ma - IA urI'jSb cef,171.95,1e+ b,15
issue of $4,000 has just been made
taxes cannot be made to cover t5e exc
penses of the county is because of the
far below It's actual + value. Tbe law con- a.
templates that property shall be assessed
D
with that object in view. When the val
uatiOu is placed so low, the rate is put
up TO the top notch. and still it does not
cover running expenses.
This coming year the county will prob
outside income than it did last Year. It
viii receive $4,000 from the sAate for the
care OF the insane, whereas last year it
placed the estimated expenditures at SS7-
ia, so that at the end oG next year the
general revenue fund will probably show
a good balance on hand to assist in pay
auditor Fagan,s report presents some
interesting details 1t shows that the
justices courts of the county cost s.. SOS 81
curing the nscal year just closed. a saw
saving was made lSSgely by the esta B.
Ishment of the city court
Ihsre was spent during the last year
11S29I e-orldges %,S2S.1, an increase Of 81
o4l-5O. an increase of 81, $40 81; for the in
dlSent poor. $I3S2.6S an increase of 81
z1o.o1' Tor eoroners inQuests, $3.50. ~. a de-
crease OF $2l4-l6; to keep up the jail and
decrease of SS01. 90.
The expense of running the district
court during the year was S12 755 ga an in
crease of S1.2SO.15 over the preceding wear
The big item in the district court ex-
pehSes Is the pay OF Juries, which amount
eu 70 S5,0fSZO The trial of John Collins
made this larger than usual.
There was spent on the fair grounds
curing the last year a. 1886. which is 81
o4V-9b more than the year before. Last
year a mouse was built for the superin-
{enqent OF the grounds. and several of the
Dulldlngs had extensive improvements
made them.
The county paid no taxes last wear but
Lne year before 1t had to pay S3I6.03 to the
city for special taxes such as pavement
anu sewer taxes.