The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-08-28
THE

THE The Bee, speaking of
COUNTY the reduction of mill in
TAX LEVY. the general tax levy for
this year, takes occasion to commend the
board of commissioners for it's economi-
cal and efficient management of the
county finances. If the Bee wishes to
curry favor with the board by giving
them tatfy that is it's own affair; but as
long as it is taking $4,000 quarter to
meet the county expenses, as it has the
past two quarters, it will be a little diff
cult to make the people of the county
believe things are going just as they
should. just as a matter of keeping the
record straight it may be we'll to call
attention to the fact that more money
will be raised by the reduced tax levy
this year than by the levy made last
year-several thousand dollars more.
This comes from the fact that the total
assessment of the county will be about
S35O,OO more this year than last, on &C
count of the increase on Northern Pacific
lands and new farms which have been
proved upon in the past year, chiefly.
What determines whether the county is
being economically managed or not is
the total amount of money expended
and what the county gets for it, not
what the rate of the levy may be. In a
county where the property assessment is
growing every year, as it is in Flathead
county, it would be a strange thing if
the rate were not decreased as the as
sessment increases. 1t may be that no
more money will be collected than will
be needed are not discussing that
at present-but no great thing has been
done in the decrease of the levy.-Kalis-
pell Inter Lake.
The Bee rcproduces the above chiefly
for the purpose of drawing the attention
of the taxpayers to the fact that the
Inter Lake is a kicker on general princi-
pies and that so far as the county com
missioners or other democratic Office
holders are concerned it can not be
expected that the Inter Lake will be fair
or reasonable. 1t could not be just and
hold its job as a republican organ. This
fact might be concealed if the Inter
Lake pursued its policy of faulttinding
with more discretion, but in it's eager
ness to merit the distinction of official
recognition as local defender of the faith
it overrcachcs and catches at the shadow
while the substance escapes it.
1t is to be expected that as the popu-
lation and wealth of the county increases
the cost of county government will also
increase, and if at the same time the
amount of taxes per capita is reduced, as
it has been in this county for two years
past. the Bee submits as an incontrover-
tible proposition that the county com
missioncrs are entitled to credit for the
reduction. The increase of taxable
property in the state is greater proper
tionately than in this county, yet the
state tax levy remains the same as last
year and the year before. Had the COM
missioners been so disposed they also
could have maintained the tax levy here
at the same figure as last year. The Bee
does not pretend that the reduction of
the tax levy is due solely to the efforts of
the commissioners not by any means
but they have helped bring about the
desirable end. Other county officials are
entitled to share of the credit, notably
Judge Smith, whose economical manage
ment of the district court business has
contributed in no small degree to keep
ing down expenses. No jury has beer
called except when absolutely necessary
and juries form the principal item of ex-
pense in the proceedings of the district
IcOurt.
While the Bee has as yet no positive
information on the subject, it is willing
to hazard the assertion that there are
few, if any, counties in Montana that
have lower tax levy than Flathead this
lycar. While it is true that more money