The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-03-12
COUNTY HAS NO MONEY.
Will Probably Get Only $4,000 from
State Sinking Fund-No Money
to Run On.

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March 18th. After that the treasur
er will make up his execution book
and all unpaid taxes will be turned
over to the sheriff for collection.
Treasurer Epps says that there are
! a great many who have not yet paid
their taxes. That is, there are a
number of receipts THAT have not been
written but the total amount Of taxes
charged has been very nearly all col
lected. In other words the receipts
which have not been written are IN
nearly every case small amounts.
After the 18th Mr.. Epps will make
up his statement and it will then be
ascertained what percentage Of the
taxes charged has been collected.
When his return mad made up the
18th of February the amount collect
ed up to that time compared very
favorably with the amount collected
one year ago at the same time.
Under the law as it is now the time
for paying taxes without the penalty
expires on the 31st Of December, and
taxes may be paid through january
with penalty of one per cent, and
through February with an additional
penalty Of one per cent, and through
March and up to and including the
18th with an additional penalty of
five per cent, making a total penalty
of all taxes paid now up to the 10Th,
seven per cent.
Heretofore Treasurer Epps has
been collecting practically all Of the
Ltaxes charged. One year as much as
ninety-nine per cent. and other years
from ninety-seven to ninety-eight per
cent. He cannot tell yet what per-
centage of the taxes will be collected
but he thinks it will not fall far be-
hind other years, as the number of
receipts yet unwritten do not repres-
eOI FdTS6 dmOllllGS.
The county at present has no money
on hand at all to pay current expen-
ses, and in fact owes about $4,000
to $4,000. The Legislature at its re-
cent session passed all act authorizing
the county supervisor to borrow from
the State sinking fund $4,000, pledg-
ing the taxes for this year for its
payment. So many of these special
loans were authorized during the re-
cent session of the legislature that 1t
is not probable that the sinking fund
will be able 70 accommodate all Of
them. The State sinking fund, how
ever, will apportion what money II
has to loan amongst the various ap-
plicants, and it is probable that New
berry will be able to get $4,000 OF
the $4,000 authorized.
The county owes the sinking fund
$1,000 for money borrowed last year,
this note being due sometime during
this month. Of course, that will have
to he paid out of the $4,000 or $20,
900 that is ito be borrowed. That ST.
900 is included in the $4,000 Of the
indebtedness Of the county.
This money from the State sinking
fund Will probably be available by
the end of this month. If the eoun-
ty can get only $4,000, after paying
the Indebtedness up to the present
time, it will be seen that there will
be very small amount left with
which to pay the running expenses
of the county for this year. There
will be no money on hand at all to
pay the count expenses Of next week.
These expenses usually amount to
about $500 for the weeks court.
Under the special act passed as to
roads, bridges, and ferries levying u
one mill tax, the treasurer is author
lied to borrow the amount that will
be realized from this tax pledglng the
tax Tor It's payment.
The one mill tax will raise about
$1,000. The treasurer will probably
borrow this amount but it cannot un-
der the terms of the act be put into
the ordinary county fund, but is to be
used for roads, bridges, and ferries.
This, of course, is very Indefinite
term but it will necessitate keeping
separate account with this fund, and
will be available for the building of
bridges, maintaining ferries, and sup
porting the chain gang.
There is also a special levy OF one
half Of one mill for past indebted
ness but this will not be available
until the taxes are collected next fall.