Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-12


Brought over unpaid from year
1908, as above. ..............$ 1913, 99S. 6S
Appropriations year 19O9.... 5,17S, IS
Total maturing to December 81.
1909. 49,. 80. 80. 80. ......$6, O6I, SO6.56
Add bonds and interest due
January ], 1870. go. ...... 3l,o77.5O
Total. .. go. .... .......... Sc, SOS, sSs.O
To pay above;
: Cash in hand Jan
uary l, 1909. ..........$ 6SS 717.S2
Estimated collections. 4.941 59S.74
Total. -. .... ... .... ... ..$5. $50, 1855
Estimated cash deficit January
J. l9lO.... .... ...................$ T2o, $50
In this statement we estimate collec-
lions for the year at an amount equal to
the years revenue IL is true that In 1903
the collections amounted to more, but this
was due TO the slow payments on account
Of taxes for 1907 and the unusually large
amount that reached the treasury after
December 81, 1907. and was included In
the treasurer's statement Of cash receipts
for year 1905. AS already explained, the
tax revenue brought over from 1908 to be
/ collected this year is $S225O3.2S less than
the 1907 tax brought over and collected In
1905
We would like to call attention to some
matters that seem to have escaped the at
tention of our legislators. The state Is
working on the theory that the appropria-
tions for any calendar year must be met
by the tax levy and other revenue for
that year. While some items Of revenue
are under the law payable monthly, near
ly all special taxes are reported quarter
ly, and the fourth quarters collections do
not reach the treasury until after Janu-
airy l of the succeeding year. af
The general ad valorem tax comprising.
as it does this year, about IS per cent Of
the total revenue. cannot be paid until
late in the year. Under our law, the tax
books close on December 20. and collectors
have until April 20 of the following year
to make their settlements. AS result, a
very large proportion of this tax reaches
the treasury in February. March and
April. and even later, of the year follow
ing that in which it accrues.
While It takes 16 months or more to COL
lect the revenue. the expenses or appro-
priations are all due within II months.
Of the total appropriations for this year
CS5173S06. $50 two items constitute three
ffths: Pensions. $3.50. 900; common schools,
81. $4,000. @f
On January l. 1908. balance due school
fund was 1892 6O3.2O. That amount was paid
during the year 1908, but on January 1,
1909 the balance unpaid on account of
appropriations for 1908 was s726. 266.2S.
We have been allowed full and free ac-
cess to all books and records needed in
course Of our examination, and wish to
thank the officials and employees of both
the comptroller's Office and the treasury
department for the courtesies shown us.
Be-. 80 Respectfully submitted,
ALoNZo RICHARDSON & CO.,
Certified Public ACCOUNTANTS
GOVERNOR BROWNS STATEMENT.
Commenting on the report, Governor
Brown has the following to say:
GOV. BROWNS STATEMENT.
"Conceiving it TO be my first duty
after my Inauguration as governor TO
ascertain ythe condition of the treasury,
on my fown account and that the peo-
pie might know its condition, en-
ployed conpetent accountant" says
with Instructions that he make this
investigation and report at the very
first opportunity. submit TO the pub
tifc the result of his Investigation, bcT
lieving that the people are interested
in knowing the condition of their
treasury, The figures speak for them
selves and have no comment 10 make
on lne report cACSPl IWO pdie4Nu-
lars. L take the liberty of doing this,
knowing that every citizen of the, state
is interested in its finances.
First. The report shows the state
is spending more money than its In
come No one will justify this prac-
tice, for it leads as inevitably to state
embarrassment as it does to bankrupt
cy when practiced by an individual.
| The credit Of the state is her best as
set and should be faithfully guarded
and preserved and this can be done in
diligently only after full knowledge
of its financial condition.
Secondly. A few years ago the state
was paying its teachers a nominal sum,
say, approximately 100000 for teaching
! the children in the public schools of the
state, while now the state appropriates
! 81, $50. 000 This money is raised mainly
! by a special ad valorem tax on the prop
| erty in the state and the levy by which
| this tax is made is for the year the
money is appropriated. The taxes, there
! fore, are not collected until after the
ers. whose salaries at best
are very meager for the serv-
| ice rendered, and results often
| in serious embarrassment to them. They
must either let their debts go unpaid or
discount their claims against the state
at ruinous rates. I have heretofore dealt
with this feature in my first message to
the legislature and I am impressed with
the belief that it is the duty of the leg
islsture to propose an amendment to the
constitution adequate to the situation.
This may be done, as heretofore point
ed out in my first message to the general
assembly, by amending the constitution
so as to permit the issuance of. say
$500, 900 of bonds, at low rate of inter-
est, the proceeds of their sale to be COW
cred into the treasury as a fund to prior
prompt payment of teachers. or the finan-
cial scheme of the constitution of retiring
annually 100000 of the public indebted.
ness could be changed by an amendment