The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-08-08
F~RIDAY,AuGUsT 8. 1902.
WHERE THE BLAME LIES.

f"sa.. 7-- #-. ~ IE
Not understanding the situation, the
taxpayers of the city of Billings and
school district No. 2, which comprises
the city and a generous portion of
the county beyond the corporate linn
it's, continue to complain of exOrbitant
taxes and blame the county commits
sioners fer the evil they suffer and
hold the board responsible for it. In
their opinion the commissioners are
blameable and accuse them of reck-
~lessness in the expenditure of county
funds and extravaganza amounting to
Wastefulness.
The truth is that the commissions
ers are not to blame, Notwithstanding
they make the levy and say what
amount of taxes shall be paid. In
doing this they are compelled to be
guided by the demands for money
arising from the sources which they
must supply. They simply act in the
capacity OF a committee on ways and
means. The different agents needing
money tell the amount required and
the commissioners must provide it.
AS the demands continue great, the
tax levy must be accordingly. An H.
lustration is afforded in the case of
the people who reside and have prop
erty in the city. Because of expen-
sive improvements which are con-
stantly going on, the levy must neces-
sarily be greater than would be the
case were these betterments not being
made. The same is true of the school
district. In the latter the increase of
assessable property since last year
has been fully 5000, 900, exclusive OF
the increase ordered in railroad prop
erty by the state board Of equaliza-
ton. The advance made in the as
sessed valuation of the latter class
OF property within the district brings
n total of the increase since 1901 TO
considerably wv 81, 200, 900. Yet the
levy for school purposes in the dis
tr1et is about the same. The trustees
explain this by calling attention to
the growth of the district AMI the
consequent demand for increased
facilities for teaching the children.
facilities that find their existence in
new buildings, increased numbers of
teachers. etc. They also say that be-
cause OF neglect or failure to pro-
vide a sinking fund for the redemp-
ton OF a bond issue of some years ago
they must make provision from the
dlrect receipts annually to redeem
those bonds as fast as they mature.
thereby causing a constant drain ON
the funds of the district as they are
derived from the taxes paid.
While it is possible that there
might be some retrenchment in this
direction, nobody is inclined to crit
lclse the school beard, for the people
OF the county and district are noted
Tor their liberality in all matters per-
tanning to the education of the youth
and consider all money spent for edu-
cational purposes money we'll invest
ed.
unfortunately in the opinion of The
Gazette the same charity is not exer-
clsable as regards the administration
OF the city. Along with many others
II believes that much of the money
which is being spent and has been
spent in the way of public improve.
ments has been and is now heinz @,
pended unnecessarily. Sidewalks
nave been ordered for which no real
necessity existed and many more a,c
now under course of construction or
have been ordered constructed fer
which there is no need. 1t is true that
the cost of building them is borne by
The individuals in front of whose
property they are ordered. but az
there are many such individuals and
the cost is heavy, it becomes a bur-
e almost general. At least they
cause an increase of taxes to those
who must pay for them.
Cause of complaint is also afforded
IN the matter of general expenses,
those that must be borne by all. With
the city no more disorderly or hard
to control than before, it has been
seen fit to increase the police force
to almost double it's former numbers
and as policemen do not work for
nothing they must be paid. This may