The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-09-11
COUNTY FINANCE
ARE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE
FROM GOOD MANAGEMENT.

FROM GOOD MANAGEMENT.
Some Figures From the Settlement
Sheets That VIII Be Of Interest
to the Public.
Comptroller General Jones came
to Orangeburg on wednesday and
had a settlement with Treasurer
Fair and Auditor McMichael. The
settlement was very satisfactory to
all concerned. Comptroller General
Jones, after finishing the settlement,
stated that it was always a pleasure
to examine the work of the county
officials here as it gave him no
trouble to check and prove their
statements which he found correct.
The treasurer and auditor are proud
of the showing made and will con-
tinue to apply themselves diligently
to the task of an economical, yet
efficient county government.
The following figures taken from
the settlement sheets in the auditors
Office, which were checked and ap-
proved by the Comptroller General
on Wednesday, will be read with in
terest by the taxpayers of the coun-
ty. The figures cover the fiscal year
from June 80, 1908, to May 81,
1909, and make a most admirable
showing. Here are the figures:
The total resources for county
purposes for the year were $780,
25953, made up of the following
items of receipts: General taxes,
s29,66O.17; fines and licenses, ST.
495.93; sales of old property and
miscellaneous, $534.66; commuta-
tion tax, $5,316, and dispensary
profits, S17.252.77.
The total expenditures, including
S3,S05.45 court expenses, was S45,-
S42.27. The outstanding Indebted
hess Ol Tue SoUhIy q SSe-i eSo "~~
s1S,76O.77, and is now S9,S43.46,
showing SO per cent reduction for
the year. This reduction was ef-
fected through good management on
the part of the officials which en-
abled them to apply the dispensary
funds to the debt.
The officials are not prepared to
say Just what effect the loss of the
dispensary profits will have upon
the running OF the county, for the
next year, but they seem ODE
agreed that Improvements Will
have to be held up until a larger tax
levy can be made, and just how the
debt is to be met without an in
creased tax ley, they do not Ven-
ture to predict.
The assessed value of property in
the county is about seven and a nall
million dollars, and to make up the
loss of the dispensary money and
insurance companies taxes, will re-
uuire about a 2 1-2 mill levy.
The school funds of the county
will also feel the loss of the dis
pensary funds, though there is
nice balance of cash in hand to be-
gin the new school year with. The
total disbursements on school claims
for the year named, was $62, 1884,
and there was paid to Calhoun coun-
ty the sum of s4,143.S?, while the
cash on hand now totals the neat
sum of s24.7S6,S7,
Notwithstanding the loss OF the
revenue from the dispensary, the
county will be in good shape, and
with a tax of five or six mills Tor
county purposes, will be able to
carry on all the public works the
same as when the dispensary was IN
full blast. The different school dis
tricts will have to provide for the
loss of the dispensary funds by
special levies Of whatever amount
it will take to meet the deficit. Or
angeburg is practically out of debt.
There is a floating debt of some
$4,000, which is mere bogatelle
for a large rich county as this. AS
soon as matters can be adjusted in
reference to the closing of the dis
pensaries everything will work