Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1907-10-25
Compared With Other Counties.

We publish in another column a
statement compiled in the state con-
troller's office, showing the tax rate
in,sthe respective counties for the
year 1907. The figures give only the
total levy for county purposes, and
do not include the levy for state pur-
poses. These statistics are al ways an
interesting study. The people of each
county want to know how their COVER
nmental expenses compare with
their sister counties. Do we manage
to get along in the housekeeping bus
mess as economically as our neigh
borl Does it take more or less per
capita tax to maintain ourIlocal estab-
lishment than other communities that
are similarly situated. A critical ex-
animation of the list awakens sur
prise in several respects. The lowest
rate, for instance, is in Sacramento
county, which carries off the banner
with levy sl.0i5: Contra Costa,
Marin aud Yolo come next, with
Sl.l05. The heaviest rate is in Mono
county, with S2.555 just 81 more
than Amador county. Next comes
MADEIRA with 81. 355, and Yuba with
81. 255. There are fourteen counties,
out of total of 81 in the state, with
higher tax rate than Amador. These
are Alpine, Butte, Lake, MADEIRA,
Mariposa, Mono, San Diego, Santa
Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Solano, Trinity,
Ventura and Yuba. There are six
counties having the same rate as
Amador, namely, Inyo, Ell Dorado,
Plumas, San Benito, Santa Barbara,
and rulare. This leaves 35 counties
with less rate than Amador.
The difference in the table publish
ed elsewhere between the inside and
outside rates, shows the amount
levied in the respective counties for
road purposes. A few of the counties
have no incorporated towns, and in
these of course the inside and out
side figures are the same, and hence
the amount levied for road purposes
is not revealed. There are only seven
counties in this list. Owing to the
severe storms of last winter, involving
the wreck OF bridges and the tearing
up of the roadbeds far beyond the OF
binary, the road taxes throughout
the state were expected to be abnor-
malIy high. And this expectation
is fulfilled probably beyond all pre-
cedent. Sacramento county enjoys
the distiction of getting along with
the lowest road tax, 20 cent. Kern
comes next, with 25 cents. Only 1t
counties missed the opportunity OF
putting the road tax below the limit
of 40 cents. Twenty -one counties
reached the limit. Eleven exceeded
the limit, These are Amador, Lake,
Los Angeles, MERGED, Riverside, San
Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo,
Tulare, TuoIumne and Sierra. Ot
these high graders, in only two in
stances is the Amador rate of 81 cents
eclipsed. These counties are Los
Angeles and San Diego, with 60 cents
each. 1t would be absured to com
pare the conditions in these two
counties with Amador. Los Angeles
is full of incorporated cities, and is
notable for the excellent character of
her roads. She takes pride in keep
ing her highway up to high state of
efficiency; more so probably than
any other county in the state. They
have something substantial to show
for the heavy outlay. Her mileage
is far greater than that of our own
county, and the cost of maintenance
falls exclusively on the country dis
tricts. 1t is not to be wondered at.
therefore, that her managers boost
the tax rate up to absolute limit
with 40 cents for regular levy, and
special of 20 cents for main through
fares. San Diego has vast territory
to cover, and the tax falls on sparely
settled districts. All things consid-
cred, Amdor is entitled to the palm
for the heaviest road taxes. If to
this could be added the best kept
highways, it would be some consola-
ton. But We must draw the line on
that proposition. The inference d oes
not hold good by long shot.