The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-09
TAXING SYSTEM IN
COMMONWEALTH
Something Radically Wrong
Somewhere in Nirginia's Method
OF Getting Its Revenues.
MANY DEFICIT COUNTIES
Fifth District Draws Twenty
Eight Thousand More Than
1t Pays Treasury.

At tile recent educational conference
in this city one Of the speakers declared
with much earnestness that there is some
thing radically wrong in Virginia's system
Of taxation. The gentleman was speaking
with special reference 70 the Common
wealth's method OF raising money for its
public schools. and II is cutie likely that
he knew what he was talking about
.,n-44cr the State can .mr -ove its
system OF general taxation IS question
that should have the attention OF its
statesmen. and 1t may be decided that
the system OF accommodating and dis
bursting funds Tor the various departments
OF state government Is as near perfection
as 81 can Dc made. but a study OF the
reports from the once OF the Aud tor OF
Public Accounts is well calculated 10 call
forth adverse comment from experienced
business men.
These reports show ia splendid detail
just how Virginia raises money FOR all
purposes and disburses the same. and this
work, being done strictly according TO
law. IL becomes plain that there are
some curious laws ia this ancient Com
n4onweaith.
How Money Comes and Goes.
The county and city treasurers receive
money from the following sources. Cen
eral taxes on real estate and personal
property, license taxes. taxes or fees on
deeds. marriage licenses and other docu-
ments that 90 10 record. school money
from the Grandstaf act and from the Al
lotment Of the literary fund
Treasurers pay out money for the fol-
lowing purposes. Criminal expenses. capi-
tauon taxes refunded, public school ex-
penses. and commissions TO com issioners
Of the revenue After transacting bust
ness along these lines for year they
have final settlements with the Audi
tor
Such OF the treasurers as do not coll
lect enough money from the sources
named above 70 settle the bills that come
in from the sources mentioned, draw
the necessary balance from the State
treasury. and such as collect more than
enough 10 meet these bills pay the bal
ance into the treasury.
All OF the eighteen cities in the State
collect more than their treasUrers have
10 pay out and they pay into the State
treasury. or did IN 1906 the sum Of
s.. OO9 633. Is they having collected in the
way OF State taxes. fees. etc. that sum
in excess OF what they paid out for
criminal expenses. schools. commissions.
EN- The one hundred counties paid
into the treasury in the year 1906 the
aggregate sum OF $5SS. 64O.53, less Sc, 10 80
which twenty eight deficit counties drew
out Of the treasury.
Cities Bear the Burden.
In 1906 Richmond city paid in. net
t369.S9o-l4. Norfolk paid In Sl64 .SsO.Ol.
These two cities paying in more cash
than the one hundred counties combined.
Lynchourg paid in SS6. 623 IS; Danville.
81. 636. p; Petersburg. 1921 g. Roanoke.
S45,1o653; Alexandria, $S5.22; Bristol.
sl4.42066; Buena Vista, $2.61.49; Char
lottesvilie, .725 q: Fredericksburg.
81 .9l5.46: Manchester, $12.2S020; Newport
News. Sc. 55O.78: Portsmouth Sc. OF: Rad
ford, $5Oo9.64; staunton. 81. 9s6.S8; VIII
lamsburR. -. 1uT4. Winchester, 81, 6lS.37
The twenty eight counties which &c
not take in enough money to pay their
criminal expenses, their school teachers
and other Legitimate expenses and the
amounts they draw out Of the State
Treasury In excess OF their collections
are: Amelia. 1894 IS; AppomattoN. SS95.5s:
Amherst si11L35; Brunswick, sos 81: Blu
chanan. s. 544 4S; Buckingham. 500 IL; Car
oline E332 D.; Carroll. s.. $50 S: Cumber-
land, s726.78: Dickinson. S5.2l5.96: DinWid-
die. S219 %; Floyd, g. 152O6: Fluvanna,
S2Oe5O; Franklin. $6.523.2D: Grayson. 81
2T34: Henry. S2,4S767: King George.
S37s. 6s. I.oe. sL5SO9 Luneaburg. S1.6s9 90;
Mathews. S460sS Middlesex. S9424; Pat
rick. s., $50. 81: Pittsylvania. $6.66325: Rich
mond county. S393.56; Russell. Sl.1ss. 81:
Scott, s495I4S: Washington. t3i5.lO: York,
$l75.23 total, $50. 71O63.
Fifth District Counties.
It will be observed that every county In
the Fifth Congressional District Is a
deficit county, and each deficit runs into
the thousands. the total for the district
being $27 20. nearly half OF the deficit
for the entire State. However. Buchanan
county, in the Ninth District. draws