The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-01-25
Our Financial Condition.

It is with sincere regret that we have to
make statement with reference to our
county's financial condition, after having
already in previous issue held out the
hope that the county tax levy would not be
raised. Believing it to be the best policy
to deal candily with the people, we feel It
due them to acquaint them of the existing
conditions. In order to ascertain how
much it will need to run the county gov
eminent we must first find out the assessed
valuation Of taxable property and then CAL
culate levy that will collect enough to
meet the running expenses. The places to
get this information is the Auditor, Treas
urer, and Supervisors office, and upon 60
ing to the Auditor we find an assessed val
uation of s., 1876, 600; this amount with the
present levy Of 4 mills brings into the
county treasury S9,9S4; at the Supervi-
sor's Office we ind the appropriation for
salaries. roads. bridges, chalngang, lnsur-
ance aud other expenses was SlO,3lO,
which was more than mill levy would
provide, but the reason given US, was that
after the former legislative delegation bad
calculated the levy for last year, the State
board of Equalization reduced the assess
ment over Sl00, 900 which of course made
the tax collection several hundred dollars
less than was expected snd which defeated
the object of the Representatives Il. e.,)
make the levy raise enough money to
meet all OF the county's expenses.
1t was our purpose to fight against 40
increase in the levy. mainly because OF the
hard times and the low prices the people
received for their products, aud tor the
further reason that we promised to vote
against an increase on the levy; when this
was done however, we did not know the
true financial condition and there was no
way of finding out until now; what We have
said about this matter before was based
upon estimates; learning tue true condltlon
Of affairs we cannot see q remedy without
an increased levy. We have witnessed the
disburslug of the county funds the past
week and we saw salaries prorated, thing
that should never be in country where 1t
is believed that the "iaborer IS worthy OF
his hire" Our Shtr riff, Auditor. Magistrates.
and Cuilstnb!es and other otrlceTS, Actually
dep.n ,al.t upon tnelr Snla:lis are forced
to take less Iuuu tue county promise, oe-
sides our officers, ther- are al Classes OF
claims which Were reStr'le sure psy when
the Treasurer inn.le lis report aud accepted
upun t.lat promise pro'Ited and the hold-
els in Numbers ii iuStnrces Srcntiy ein-
tarr"sSeh. O.ie l.trty. u, Il matter OF accom-
muialon, advance. ctr,ula moneys With
out charging d e, 1t o: discount and wneu
lie was told the claim would have 10 he pro-
ateI he was ulnaZcd ih.> i II but cundl-
ton 10 be in and We are convinced that II
We let thugs run on as ,h,y are 1t Is only
u matter of time when steps will have to be
taken to shake OFF the yoke; If We do not
increase the levy, parties holding claims
agaist the county will not be content 10
hold them in their present shape, and they
will 60 into court and get q Judgment that
will draw interest 1t is by Tar better to put
the levy at mills and pay of all OF the
debts and then gradually lowerthe levy, than
to allow it 10 remain as at present, adding
debt to debt. With the present levy, for
four years there will be no change IN the
resi- estate assessment, within four years
Clarendon County will have debt upon
her shoulders Of not less than $4,000; but
if we raise the levy now to mllls 1t Is our
sincere conviction that all Of the debts will
be paid and the county put on such basis
that 81 mill levy will cover the expenses
next wear.