Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1901-11-01
TRY RETRENCnMENT.

The beard OF county commissioners on
The subject OF special tax levy for
general road purposes. The commu-
nication Is addressed to the taxpayers
IF koOtcnai county, with the evident
view Of securing opinions as To the adj
Instability Of such action by the board,
The purpose Of this proposed special
levy is most laudable and no one Ill
iioubt the boards motive In the mat
ter, but the Republican predicts that
the project will meet with little IA
vor among taxpayers, and the reasons
are clearly apparent.
1t will not be denied that great
deal more money than is now availa-
bic for that purpose could be most ju
diciously used in the improvement Of
roads and bridges and the building Of
new ones throughout the county,:
neither will II be denied that because
~ a lack Of sufficient funds, or some
other reason, work In this direction
has not kept pace with tho rapid set
ment In isolated sections has been
greatly retarded. But 1t will be found
hat the taxpayers are, nevertheless,
in no humor to look with favor upon Il
proposition to increase the levy at
Ibis time. The board should there
fore look TO other sources for relief,
and unless the members are totally
blind to the interests of the people,
the direction of these sources need not
he pointed out to them.
The rate of taxation this year is
$40 upon each 500 valuation. The
rate has been as high as 81. 80 but not
upon the present valuation. At the
imc Of this high rate it was the GUS
ON FOR assessors to return low yalua-
ions. A law passed by the eglsa
iurc of 1900, which limits the rate for
different purposes, resulted In radical
changes In the system OF valuation.
The rate has been lowered, while the
property Is being assessed aL more
nearly It's actual cash value. From
statistics mt hand the Republican
would estimate that this change in
creased valuations from % to 80 per
cent, and believes this to be most
conservative statement. 1t will thus
he seen that Il rate OF r. 10 upon pres
cnt valuations produces Il great deal
higher taxes than rate of $500 upon
valuations made few years ago. 1t
Is, therefore, most conservative t.
state that the taxes for 1901 are high.
or than ever before in the history OF
kootenai county. and that Is high
enough for all purposes IL all OF tn,
funds thus raised are judiciously ex.
pended.
The assessed valuation Of propert,
in kootenai county this year Is So,
G9i,511.2l. a rate OF 81. 20 will. there.
fore, produce 800, 4S6. IS. 1t is esti
mated that revenues from other
sources, saloon licenses excepted. viii
produce about $4,000. making tota
~ Sll4, 1868 Out of this the state
school and bond and interest funds re-
quire sa3 4aS.00, leaving balance o
S6l,0aS16 for current expenses anc
roads and bridges. The Republican,
submits that this ought to be enough
Tor current expenses and for reads ant
bridges without being augmented b,
i special levy. MS the commissioner
propose, and il would be sunicien,
under judicious management. Thai
il IL not sufficient, which the commits
sloners are admitting. Is due to tn,
laet that our current" expenses ar,
too high.
Our county officers are at present al
lowed the maximum salary prescribet
hy law in every instance except In,
probate judge, who receives the snus
sum OF $1,000 year for performing du
lies which should not cost the count,
more than $500. The Republican be
llcves that county officers should b,
paid just as high salaries ms their re
speetiye duties would command II
commercial life, but no more. A,
present they are receiving grea'
deal more in every instance. A few
illustrations will serve to prove this
Inc clerk Of court, who is ex-otlici,
auditor and recorder, holds Il posito,
similar to that Of head bOok-keeper /,
IN ordinary commercial house. bu