The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-01-13
qHE oouNrY,s INDEBTEDNESS.
Chief Clerk Green, After a Careful Elk
animation of the Books and Vouch-
ers, Makes Statement to the
County Commissioners.


To the County Commissioners OF Baltimore County
In accordance with your instructions | have
made careful examination of the books and
vouchers in your office, with view TO ascertain
ing, as far as possible, the true indebtedness OF
the county.
1st. while am satisfied that the only time of
the year at which an exact entertainment OF the
amount of indebtedness could be had is the end
of April or beginning of May. Immediately be-
fore the first collections are made under new
levy, yet in order to meet the desire so strongly
felt that you should be informed of the county g
financial condition as soon as practicable, have
prepared the following statement. have taken
the accounts as they stood on January 1st, 1900,
and have estimated the receipts and disburse-
ments for the first four months of this year by
assuming that they will be, approximately. the
same in 1900 as in the corresponding months of
1899. In this way endeavor to show what the
amount of the debt will be on May 1st 1900.
I'd. 1t would be misleading to take the amount
due now, January lst, as the real Indebtedness,
for the reason that in the months of January,
February, March and April. the disbursements
of this is not far to seek Under the stimulus of
the liberal bonus given as discount for prompt
payment of taxes, an arrangement which, in
tionately large amount of the levy is paid in the
earlier months of the financial year. Thus, in
se sgT a fheTe was Psq en-
the whole levy in one month. In the months OF
hay. June and July, more than half of the entire
levy was collected 1t will therefore be readily
understood why in the latter months of the fiscal
year the disbursements SO largely exceed the
receipts. The county spends its income In ad-
vance in the earlier months, partly IN defraylng
the regular expenses and partly in retiring,
temporarily, its obligations incurred previously.
Sd. The disbursements in the first four months
of 1899 aggregated SITS, 1854, exclusive of pay
ments of bills payable falling due. The receipts
for the same period, including taxes, interest,
Sheriff's fees, redemption of property sold for
unpaid taxes. and produce sold from the aims
house, amounted to $59, 65T.31, showing an excess
Ct 96 net 9 Ss Sf S
first four months of 1900 will be less than in 1892
Notwithstanding the fact that reductions are
being effected in certain lines of expenditure,
because in the latter months of the fiscal year
ending May 31st, 1899, accounts amounting to
several thousands of dollars were held back
until June and following months.
4th. The county owes now, in bills payable and
acceptances, 1872, 92572 maturing at various
dates from January 9Th to April Goth. There are
on file unpaid accounts aggregating $2l, SOC. IA.
costs in removed cases recently tried or pend
ing. will add at least 5000 more.
5th. Summarizing these figures we arrive at
the following statement. partly based on the
foregoing estimates
Notes and acceptances outstanding 1872 925. 72
Accounts on file unpaid. .............. 21,506.14
Accounts due, not yet presented, esti-
mated. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 5,UUO.UU
Estimated excess of disbursements
over receipts in January, February,
March and April. 1850. 63
Interest on notes discounted, estimated 3,236.22
Total. $3l 329. q
Deduct cash on hand Dec. 31st, $780,. 36,119.06
saO5, lO.o5
county will on May LIST, 1900 have an apparent
Indebtedness of 500, 210.65. mean that It would
require that amount to put the county on cash
paying basis. basis such that the borrowing of
money from the banks would no longer be
necessary.
18th. But there are assets countervailing in
part this Indebtedness, consisting CT taxes on
back levies to be collected after May LIST, in
terest and money payable as costs in cases re-
moved to Baltimore county from other counties.
some of which have been due for years. shall
consider these levies separately.
Sth: The levy of 1895 has been overpaid and
nothing more can be expected from It.. Collec-
lions from levies earlier than that of 1896 are
hardly worth considering.
9th. or the levy of 1897 there is STILL according
to the ledger, $3O899 due. The collection of q
large part of this is contingent on the rendering
of decision favorable to the county's interest
the United States, the issue of which is In doubt.
Under all the circumstances do not consider it
safe to value this asset as more than $4,000.
10th. OF the levy of 1898 there appears to be
yet uncollecteda balance of $21 013. This balance
is chargeable with an allowance for insolvent
and erroneous items, an amount not yet ascer-
vious years, would estimate as about three per
cent. Of the total levy, or $17842, thus reducing
the balance of the 1898 levy to 50, III ,ooo :
18th. The amount originally levied in 1899 on
real and personal property, including corpora
ton stocks and stocks and bonds, was 1892 Ga.
TO which add $500, as estimated receipts for
mortgage interest tax, and So 035. 10 for later as
sessments added to the levy, making the total
levy for the year $603, 67l. 70. OF this amount
balance of $14l ,53425. Charging this balance
with three per cent. of levy for "insolvent and
erroneous $1S,110. also with So, 86902 estima-
ted amount of taxes and interest to be paid on
the levy of 1899 in the months of January, Feb
ruary, March and April, for which allowance has
been already made in the item of $1lS,6 .63 in
collected after May 1st, 1900, balance of ST.
555.23.