Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-07-07
Taxes and Deficits

That the increase in values,
brought about by the reassessment
Of lands, will yield corresponding
increase in revenue, goes without
saying, but there are many consld-
crate and far-seeing citizens who are
not impressed with the argument
that, because Of this, a wholesale
reduction in the tax rate is made
Since this income be-
came apparent. and in fact long
before, much has been said and
heard about the rate not being suf-
6cient to provide an increase equal
to the county's needs along certain
lines, and evidences are not want
ing that the county has outgrown
the schedules on which it has long
depended. The Recorder does not
propose to contend for tax rates
that will be oppressive, but chang.
ed conditions and growing demands
m ust be recognized and faced, and
the custodians of the county's at
fairs and interests cannot hastily
grasp the idea Of reduction as a
simple, necessary case Of cause and
effect.
The true aim of puplic fnancicr-
ing does not consist in policy
which handicaps the frugal and
economical administration Of pub
lie affairs any more than it does in
the piling up of "a surplus. 1t is
right, and this should be the aim
of our county officials, to adjust the
income, in each department, as
closely as possible to the requisite
outlay, and these requirements
should be ascertained by actual in
vestigation and study rather than
BY approximation, hearsay and In
ference.
In referring to this question we
have in mind more particularly,
the maintenance Of public schools.
1t IS a fact not generally known
that the records Of the several
School Boards, from year to year,
show deficit or shortage.
In this Monterey district, with
the conditions of which we are
familiar, the Board has been at
tempting to conduct a system,
which, as inaugurated, would cost,
approximately, $1,000, with an al
lowance of something like $1,000.
This statement, while only an APP
Proclamation, will give some idea OF
the situation, account for the pre-.
mature gray heads of members OF
the school Board, and awaken a
feeling of regret, perhaps, for past
censure and harsh criticism.
1t is an easy matter to under
estimate the difficulty of conduct
ing public affairs, and it is not our
purpose to pass Judgment upon
those who have such matters lin
hand now, or have had during past
years, but a little reflection and in
vestigation will prove that the
work has been retarded and the
system embarrassed by adhering to
the low rate provided. The records
show that more money was needed,
and badly needed, ten years ago,
and, had a small increase been
given then, there would have been
no Indebtedness to-day, the three
new school buildings needed could
have been built, and we might have
demanded and commanded more
competent teachers by Offering
them better salaries. AS result
Of this oversight, the greater part
Of the proceeds arising from the
special fund provided last year was
consumed in the payment of &C.
crued interest. Indeed, so appar-
emit are the needs of this district,
that our duty is plain, and the
point to be determined by the SUI
pervisors is, not as to reduction,
but will the additional amount as
sured by increased valuations be
sufficient to relieve the embarrass-
ment and keep pace with the grow
ing interest awakened through
out the State. This can
be determined by an examination
of records and facts, to which the
Supervisors, or any individual citi-
zen, may have access, filed at the
office of the District Board. and
these will show that the question
Of an increase is more weighty than
that of reduction.
1t is useless to point to the i'm
perfections of the public school
system. and the mistakes ct ad-
ministration. The system has
come to stay, it IS all we have, the
lestinies of hundreds of children
are to be determined by the meas