The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-01-18
Bowman Comments on the
Fact that There Has Been
No Increase in Total Coun-
ty Tax Since 1908.
LARGE AMOUNT WAS
SPENT LAST YEAR
Bonded Indebtedness of the
County Is Being Reduced
Each Year County May
Be Out of Debt in 1916.

In addition to his annual report
County Auditor Bowman submitted q
report of county expenditures and
briefly reviewed many of the most Inn
portant matters which are before the
county authorities. 1t is as follows:
We have just passed through a cam
paign year, and the expenses of the
county are always heavier in suoh a
year. In addition to the regular cleo
ton expenses, which were $3.24S.73.
We had registration also. which cost
the county s5.s7s.5o.
A greater expenditure was made for
bridges in 1912 than in any year for
quite a number OF years past.
A comparison OF expenditures shows
that for bridges and bridge repairs
there was expended in 1910 s26.S43.s0;
in 1911, s26.774.ss; and in 1912. $780,
454.73, which is an increase of s2s.-
679.s5 in 1912 over that of 1911. and
an increase of s2s.sl0.ss of 1910. The
I'll &C itChss cit1tiOHt IEkietTdtiOu anu
bridges increased the disbursements
out of the county fund. $32.603.0s in
1912 over that of 1911.
No Tax Increase.
These, and other smaller increased
demands on the county fund have
been met. am very glad to say. with
out an increase in the total county tax
rate since 1903
In the year 1911 the rate for bridge
sinking fund was raised from one cent
to four cents on each 500. and the
free turnpike repair fund was raised
from three cents to five cents on each
800 valuation. The original levy of
3 cents produced only about $500
which was about $40 per mile. which
amount was found to be inadequate for
the upkeep of the roads with the in
creased usage and the increased mile
age from year to year.
In raising the levies for the bridge
sinking fund and the free turnpike
fund as aforesaid, IL was necessary to
reduce the levy elsewhere In order to
prevent the raising of the total of
county levy, and the general fund was
, reduced 4 cents on each 800.
AS a result of this reduction In the
rate and the unusually heavy demands
made on this fund in 1912 the balance
on hands january /, 1918 shows quite
q reduction.
The balance on hand in this fund
January i. 1910. was SIS. s.ss021; Janu-
airy 1, 1912. s59.ss7.63: January /.
1912, s70.293.43;. and balance January
i, 1913. s45.757.3s. which is q reduc-
tion of s24.53s.0s during the past year.
as a result of the lower rate and q
highher amount expended, which
would indicate that the former rate
must again be restored. or the ex-
penditures of this fund reduced about
to the amount in the years prior to
1912.
Gravel Riad Repairs
The county commissioners expend-
ed s16,0sS.54 for gravel road repairs
! in 1912. The county has about 217
miles of free turnpike which makes
the average about $500 per mile.
The expenditures for the county
poor farm, including new buildings
and repairs was s1s.159.52 in 1911. and
| s14 4,473.51 in 1912. making a reduction
/ of s1,6s6.17 in the past year. The to-
tai expenditures for the county jail
and home for friendless. including new
/ buildings and grounds was ss,179.e5 in
1911, and s4,542.32 in 1912 This diff
| ference is due principally to the con-
struction of the new insane ward At
| the county Jail in 1911.
The bridge sinking fund has been
| increased in 1912 to the amount OF
s13,54S56 and the total amount in this
fund at present Is 60.003.s7.
There have been contracts let for
the construction of five macadamized
roads in 1912. four of which are situ-
ated in Wayne township and one In
Green township. The total bond issue
for these highways is s137 .00o There
were four roads contracted prior TO
1912 and there are three petitions now
on file.
Bonded Indebtedness
| The bonded Indebtedness of the
county is being reduced each year.
| s25, 900 having been paid on the prin-
| cipal last year. leaving the following
outstanding bonds: $4,000 court
| house bonds. due and payable in De-
cember. 1913. and 100000 refunding
bonds of which 10000 is due and pay
able in each OF the following years:
1914. 1915, 1916. at which time the
county will be put out OF debt unless
further Indebtedness is incurred.
| The total expenditures in 1910 were
s1s1 .224-s2: in 1911, s135.611-ss; and
| in 1912, 6s.oe6.2o.
The average monthly disbursement
in 1910 was s13.435.41: in 1911, sIl,-
3oo.s7; and in 1912, s14,eos.oz.