The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1914-01-30

Iotal Current Expense. 502O5I
Road and Bridges .... 4OI5O9
ocnool S4l733l
In glancing over the figures for eacl
office for several years it will be note,
that the amounts expended hold quit,
uniform. There is nothing to indicat,
that any of our present officers were
spending any considerable amoun
more than their predecessors. There
is nothing particularly startling shown
IN these hgures to cause the committee
10 pelleve 1t necessary for them tc
make detailed investigation of any OF
the OFFICES. The average cost of each
office is as follows:
Clerk, $9,09454; sheriff. s7,423. 26:
assessor, $6,246.64; treasurer, S1.S19.
"a; attorney, $1,976.32; superintendent
of schools, $2,3833S; SURVEYOR. s1214.-
20; coroner, $34420; commissioner
$2,9S4.15; probate court, $2,391.22:
district court, $4,155.23; justice court
$1,156.50; court house, $1,S30.43; coun.
ty poor, $3,92S.O2; county physicians
$SS2.S5; general election. S4.925.75
The following officers collected for
|
1911 1872
Clerk and Auditor s5,19O.3S IS, 4ss 65
Sheriff ........... 1,27272 1,114.O7
Assessor ........ S56.01 634 90
treasurer ........ 1918 1926. 80
Probate Court 49,. 1,717.30 1851 20
The figures showing the expense of
The several offices represent the items
chargable to what is known as the
general expense fund The total
amount taken from this fund during
the past three years are as follows:
1910, $50,205.32; 1911 55,25O.66; 1912.
500, 1926, the average thereof being
$53,541.41. So far this year we have
expended $41,S0O.76. Before leaving
the subject of current expense l wish
to correct a statement | made at the
last meeting. The figures made for
1911 show that there was considerable
more expense for the majority of Of
fees than during the previous or sub
sequent year. | attributed this to the
fact that our receipts that year were
much larger than usual and money be-
ing freer there was tendency to
spend more along all lines. Upon
further investigation we find that ow-
ing to change made in the end of the
fiscal year by legislature that there
was included in the figures of that
year the expenditures for fifteen
months, consequently the increase
shown. The next source of outgo for |
our money is for roads, During the |
year 1910 we expended thereon $40
509.92; in 1911, $45,S 90.63, in 1912, S5S.-
440.32 total of $144,840.S7, an aver
age of $4S,2S0.29 annually for the three
years. These figures are only approx
mate and do not represent all the
money expended during the time men>
toned. During 1910 and a part of
1911 the old law in reference to the
payment of road taxes was enforced.
1t was permissible to work out or
pay the road overseers road taxes dur
ing that time. Thus the records do
not show the full amount expended
The amounts we are spending for
roads are rapidly increasing. So far
his year we have spent $47,919.52
The third and last source of eXpendi-
ure as shown by our county records is
or schools. During 1910 we spent for
chool purposes $S4,73393; in 1911, Z
1913, 201.20, and in 1912, 1921 ,293.63, a
otal of $299,22S.76 and an annual lc
verage of $99,74292. This average is e
ot fair for comparison purposes with l,
What we are now spending as here l
gain our expenditures are rapidly in q
reasing. So far this year the schools p
ave cost us $50 ,246.38. The increased Z
Expenditure for school purposes ac- Il
cunts very largely for the great in
rease in our county taxes AS the W
lnds for city and villages are raised o.
nd expended independently of a coun- el
: and as the county has nothing to ic
, Herewith other than to collect the pr
.xes levied, we will not consider them di
this time. OF the expenditures made 81
lring the past three years we find m
AT on the average 40 per cent &C
ereof was for schools, 23 per cent W
+ roads, and 81 per cent for current Oh
pense. Putting it another way, for w
cry 800 spent, $40 was for schools, Ell
3 for roads, and $27 for county ex- bl
nse. The expenditure so far made ha
is year shows approximately 4S per eX
mt for schools, 20 per cent for roads. a
d "a per cent for county expense. do
By these figures we believe we have We
swered the question, Where does IA
7 money go?" We do not claim ac- is
racy for these figures, They are I'll;
proximate only, but as accurate as Tt
y it is possible for your committee fol
obtain ge
We now come to the consideration of co
re we obtaining full value for our pa
)ney?" Can we reduce these ex- alb
nditures? If so, howl" In asking CO.
sse questions you have put us de- CA
ledly up against it. These are ques- ms
ms generally answered by politicians gel
th the greatest of ease, but you will isl
ar in mind that none of your com exl
tteemen are politicians; hence they rel
d it very difficult to answer them of
e committee would answer them, taA
viewer, as follows: Cd Are we Oh. nu
ming full value for our money!" ths
(2) Can we reduce these expen- wa
ures?" Yes. (3) "How?' EIimi- tha
.e partisan politics from county gov ent
lment. arc
When we come to consider whether mi.
are receiving full value for our ilea
ney and ways and means of re- ant