The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-07-06

4
uation was desperate and the COM
missioners set about the discovery Of
remedy. County expenses were cut
to the lowest limit. Employees who
could be spared were discharged and
| their duties imposed on others who
were retained, Insurance on county
buildings was reduced. Many who
were receiving aid from the county
were compelled to rely for support on
their own resources. All claims
against the county were carefully
scrutinized and cut to the lowest fig
ure possible. Applications for abate-
ment Of taxes were refused to scores
of people who for years. had escaped
payment of their just proportion of
taxes. Collections of the public rev.
enues were enforced as never before.
up back taxes, in 1899 resolution
was adopted by the board under
which there was paid into the county
treasury over $1,000 in satisfaction
of taxes for 1898 and prior years based
on the valuation for that year with
a deduction of so per cent. This
resolution evidenced a larger and
more just comprehension of the neces-
stiles of the situation than any
forfeited tax sale law ever enacted by
the state legislature. 1t gave rise to
no litigation. There was no danger
of the county being compelled to re-
fund amounts paid in settlement.
There was no expense to county or
taxpayer because Of proceedings under
the resolution. 1t gave every owner
an opportunity to save his property
without exposing him to the danger
of a public sale where his real estate
or his home might be bid off for sum
beyond his power to pay,
"In a hundred other ways the re-
ceipts of the county were increased
and the disbursements of the treasury
reduced, all without injury or prejud-
ice to the taxpayer. All county taxes
are levied by the board of county
commissioners. The board voted Il
levy in 1897 of 100000 in 1898, $780,
600; in 1899, $3.50, 900; and levy will
be voted this year of not less than
500, 200 nor more than $l25, 200. In
two years we note reduction in levy
Of just so per cent and in three years
a reduction of over So per cent.
"As shown above there was deficit
in the county treasury of S6S, 944.32 in
1897. Today all warrants are paid in
cash when presented. The county
has no floating debt. 1t has in
county funds in its treasury over
500, 900.
':Since 1897 the valuation of prop
erty in the county for the purposes Of
taxation has been reduced over ST ,000,-
600, thus diminishing the state tax
paid by the county. During the same
period the tax rate has been cut from
4.97 mills to 2.97 mills and this may be
further diminished at the meeting OF
the board In j uly of this gear.
"But one mistake can be charged to
the county boardy For the error of
law involved in the attempted sale Of
county attorney should be held ac-
cOuntable. One of che commission
ers had the moral courage to publicly
admit that he was responsible for a
mistake OF fact ia assuming that a
valuable judgment assigned had been
paid. After the sale had been res
cinded by the board and the district
court had declared it to be void tue
purchaser credited the county with
$1,000 by him collected on the judg-
ments and the balance of his purchase
money was allowed him ut the last
meeting of the commissioners, so that
the county is actually $1,000 ahead on
the deal.
This showing is very creditable,
and those who are at all familiar with
public affairs need have no difficulty
in rendering the credit to the proper
parties"