The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-19
WHERE DOESIT co?
Reasons for Increase in County
Taxes.
Advance in Salaries Is in Meas
ure Responsible.
BUT THAT ISN'T ALL
Difficult to Find Where Most Of
Money Will Go.
Proposed Increase in Poor Fund
a Small Item.
UT THAT ISN'T ALL

When the county commissioners this
month decided to increase the county
taxes some so per cent, they overlook
ed several opportunities to explain 10
the taxpayers just where the money
would go. Only in a general way nave |
the commissioners explained to the |
public what will become or the addl-
tional $4,000 which the increased
levy viii raise.
From numerous statements issued |
by members of the board and by S. g. |
Zimmerman, county clerk, 1t has been
explained that the extra money IS ror |
increased salaries and the cost or the |
new district court. It was also men |
toned that a probable appropriation |
to the tuberculosis camp and ProVl- |
dent association would boost the levy. |
But an aggregate of all of these eX-
penses still leaves nearly $4,000 Tor
which the commissioners have not ac-
counted.
This year there was an increase of
more than $2,0OO,000 in assessab pie
property in Shawnee county. This
alone would have raised considerable
more money than year ago by the
use of the 1910 levy. But the 1911
! levy Of 1.s5 mills is discarded to ac-
cept a probable new levy of 2.7O
mills.
The recent legislature established a
new court for Shawnee county It NIX
ed Judge Whitcombs salary at $4,000
year. But the state and not the
pense for the court is but S1,500
year. OF this amount $500 goes to
stenographer and 5000 to balm
Costs for witnesses and jurors can not
be charged as additional expense, as
they would have been used in the trial
of the cases had the county maintain
ed but one court. The commissioners
call attention to the cost OF $1,000 Tor
repairing the new court room. This is
hardly a fair item to include in the
levy. but nevertheless is placed on the
list of Increased expenses"
Then there is a $500 increase in the
county clerks salary But benef1cent
legislature and good natured county
board does not stop here Then the
| county board went still further It in
creased his clerk hire from $2,4OO
year to SO, 500 a year. Where former
county clerks have handled the cOun-
tvs work with two clerks. the Office
now has four assistants and the coun-
tvs business has not Increased in pro-
portion.
In the county attorneys office is
; found an increase of $1,000 year for
the pay Of assistants.
The county superintendent's salary
was increased $139.92 year.
2 In the court of Topeka is an increase
Of $500 a year to the clerk and mar
But all of these increases-which
include 81 900 for court room repairs
is a gain of but s46s3.92. Form erlv
L
year and the tuberculosis camp
S120 year from the county. Their
proposed budget would mean an in
crease to the county of $6.12o year.
/ These Increased expenses aggregate
but $10.753.92 and the new levy will
raise nearly $4,000 with which to
: meet them.
Money for Bridges.
Recently the board called the tax
payers attention to the fact that more
I'D f. r
$ This statement was Issued without any
\ view to probable figures. 1t might
I have been more convincing to several
: thousand people who pay taxes had
= the board thoughtfully told just what
u bridges are to be built and what each
~ will probably cost. Then, too, the
! stateme nts would have carried weigh
had the figures been issued in a COM
e parative statement with road and
e bridge work of the last year.
q 1t is to be remembered that the
J. present board loaded itself with glory
Y, last wear by spending rea.'y $4,000
Is for bridges and permanent highway;
- in Shawnee county. That was double
- the amount expalded by any former
~ board in the same pe-:o1 for read anC
" bridge work.
% There are several things to be re
called. though, consuming : county
he road and bridge work. Last year Th'
} county met the eX 3ense from its gen
q eral revenue fun.l. This year that 1un(
} is decidedly increased and in addition
g to the increase tie board nails en-
II levy of eight-tenths of a mil for Ter
- manent road AMI bridge work. Thi
= levy will raise $45, 0O0-and still leav'
n intact the general revenue fund from
20 which the county last Year drew 70
~ road and bridge work.
10 Also. one might note, the count.
creates a new fund this year by lev.
- which will raise from $4,000 to $50,
~ 600 for poor fund From this fund
- OF course, would come the $4,000 to
- Topeka charities and would eliminat
a. the same item from the general reve
n, nue. column. But you might PARTIAL,
- offset that figure by including $500
IA for the detention hospital. Then 1t /
A. that you have all of the "additiona
RS expenses which have been mysteri
NJ ously under discussion by the men VIII
r fix the countys levy.
at In taking into consideration the ap
Id preparation to Topeka charities,
might be remembered that these chart
W ties relieve the county OF thousands Q
IL dollars expense which nave formerl
Of been charged to the office of poo
IN commissioner, and the ne exrense t
ce the county for the charities appropri
IL alton should seemingly no. increase tn
-e. taxes one dollar.
i'll Perhaps comparative statemer
lr. from the board concerning count
n work in 1910 and that contemplate
lis this year would relieve the minds {
es several hundred uneasy taxpayers.
~
IN CUT UP WAGGENER AGAIN.