The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-17
THE FINANCES
OF THE COUNTY
Auditor Camp Completes His
First Annual Report.
SOME RECOGNIZED DATI0NS
Exhibit of the Resources and Expendi-
lures for Fiscal Year Ending Sep
TENDER 30-Finds Much That
Needs Legislative Action

County Auditor A. ]. Camp has just COM
pleted his first annual report of the inan-
cial condition OF Jefferson county for the
fiscal year ending September 80. 1899, and
submits 1T with a number of important
recommendations.
According to his report the total gsceipts
were s296, 027. SO, derived from the follow
ing sources: County tax, sl1O,86S.O5; ma
cadamized road tax, $31 &c., %; bridge tax
s15,9S7.55; 81 road tax, s16Os0.O5; school tax,
$15,9S1.15; fines and forfeitures, $11.S7s92; So
licitors fund.- $685. $780, licenses, $21, 567. TO- and
the balance from miscellaneous sources.
Disbursements
Disbursements during the year were as
follows: Charity s13,541.4O; commissioners
court, six months, $S,654.O6; board of reve-
nue.. six months, s2,5S3.75; auditors office,
$1,3142S; treasurer's office, $2,4S4.47; health
department $S.975.22; chancery court, $9i2.-
TO- circuit court, S12,5SS.24; city court, $1S,-
64O33; criminal court, S23, 1885; probate
court, $2,2SO.S6; court house expense, $7,173.
o5; Jail expense, So, 1906; road department,
$51,0O6.S5; tax department, $5,209.S0; bond in
terest, 1884; military, 800; inquests,
81, 1854; fine and forfeiture claims paid,
SIG, 032. "a; schools, $15,714.45 sherff's office,
$559.97; elections, s1,22579; Ensley bridge
suits, s70G71O; Valley Creek work, $S7o.92;
miscellaneous, s1,199.59.
Eleven thousand, five hundred dollars of
Interest is charged direct to the road de-
partment, making the total annual fixed
charges $96,99i.
Recommendations
In making his report Auditor Camp SUBJ
mits the following recommendations:
81 recommend that all the court house
officials upon the expiration of their pres
ent term of office be placed on fixed sala-
ries and that the legal fees and emolu-
ments of their respective offices be turned
into the county treasury, the excess over
payment of said salaries to constitute
sinking fund to meet the county's liabilities.
Radical Change Needed
ct recommend a radical change In the law
regulating the fine and forfeiture fund. Its
present operation yields a rich harvest to
the scrip buyer at the expense of the aver
age witness who is either forced to sell his
attendance for a small percentage of Its
face value or wait several years for his pay.
If the fee system is abolished and county
and municipal officers are required to serve
as state witnesses without compensation, 1t
IS safe to say that the other necessary Wit
nesses could be paid in cash out of the gen
eral fund.
Sinking Fund
ct recommend that a small percentage OF
the general. funds be set aside each year
as a sinking fund to meet the countys
,sonded debt The acts authorizing the
bond issues imply that this should be done,
with an economical administration, there
is no reason why beginning should not
zoe made.
1.-The following amounts have been paid
out during the year by the county on ac-
count of the several courts: Jurors, $685.
15o.O5: salaries. s1O,995.7S; solicitors, 1888;
bailiffs, s5,63S5O; stationery, s4,S95.39; mis-
cellaneous, $2,19S.22. Total, $57 ,6S1.49
1.-THE county has paid during the year
for water $l929.77, and for lights $SoS6s
Unless these items can be secured at a
reasonable contract price, the county should
install its own plants. Asst the steam boil
ers are in use anyway, the operating ex-
pense would be reduced to a minimum.
Printing and Stationary
1.-THE printing and stationery for the year
amounted to $6,SS9.52, an excessive amount,
and should be reduced in some way. If
the years business was let at one time to
tine lowest bidder, it might result in large
saving to the county.
~The average monthly cash balance for
the year was $50, 2S4.97 Instead of being
charged by the bank commission for
paying the bond interest coupons, the
county, it seems to me, should receive a
reasonable interest cash balances.
"A large expense is imposed on the coun-
ty each year by local laws, many of which
should be repealed. Tax payers will do
we'll to examine those now on the statute
books, and in future require all local laws
before taking effect, to be ratified by the
people of the county"
Bank statement
The bank clearances for the week ending