Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1914-09-11
TELLS WHERE TAX.
PAYERS MONEY GOES
Continued from page ID

The total of disbursements for
1912 We're $11O,296.37 greater than
in 1913, more than $67 100000 of the
difference being in the schools expen-
diture.
The current expense fund cares for
the Offices of the auditor, treasurer,
sheriff, clerk, assessor, coroner, SUI
peror court, engineer, commission
ers. courthouse, poorhouse, wild ami
mai bounties, etc., and in nearly every
case the cost in 1913 was greater
than in 1912. I shall discuss the ex-
penditures and receipts of these var
ious departments, and as far as pos
sible compare the workings of the
Offices Of this county with like offices
in other counties in the state, and try
thereby to ascertain if the cost of
particular office is justified by the
work done.
Cost OF Auditors Office.
l find that the auditors Office cost
$5,798.92 in 1918, and $251.92 more
than that in 1912, but in the year
1912 the amount of the receipts Of
that Office were $5,5Ss.06, as against
$4,342.33 in 1918, indicating that the
office did a great deal more work in
1912. In 1912 the Office spent
1OS.2S per cent of the fees collected;
in 1918 it spent 1884 per cent.
The county clerks Office cost ST.
1908 in 1918, and $2,675.13 in
1912. 1t expended S4.15 per cent of
its earnings in 1913, which 10 the
highest per cent yet expended by that
office. I shall furnish a comparative
statement OF the business of this. as
of the other offices, later. which will
show the trend of expense. On the
whole, that office for this county COM
pares favorably with the other Offices
in counties of like size in the state.
The assessors Office cost $5.992.11
In 1918, which was about $4,000
more than in 1912, though 1912 was
the year for the listing of real prop
erty, it not being listed in 1913.
50 The prosecuting attorneys office
cost $2.71s.35 in 1913, which was
$113.35 more than in 1912.
The Treasurer's ONCE.
The treasurer's Office cost $5.457.-
10 in 1918, which was $651.53 more
than in 1912, when the ONCE collect
ed about $135,O00.00 more money.
The cost of collection In 1912 was
8O.75 cents per hundred dollars coll
lected; in 1918 the cost was $1.1664
per hundred dollars collected.
BY comparison Of county reports
BY comparison of county reports.
1T appears that large sums can
be collected for smaller proper
ticnate cost than smaller ones. but in
this case it cost more in dollars and
cents to collect q smaller sum, and OF
course the proportionate cost was
very much greater.
Is The sheriff's office cost $4,265.2s
in 1918, which was about $4,000
more than in 1912.
The engineers ONCE cost $2,454.64
in 1913, which Is about $4,000
more than in 1912. The difference is
made up in per diem and salary; this
though less road work was done in
1918, than in 1919.
ifBThe commissioner Office cost
$3,26O.00, or $525.10 more than in
l1s12. The difference is made up en-
tirely of the per diem of the commis-
sioners, the other expenses Of the
office being slightly less than in 1912.
The superior court cost $9,565.50
in 1913, which is $1,785.00 less than
in 1912. Witnesses and jurors cost
the county about $2,390.00 less in
1918, but the judges and bailiffs con-
siderable more, 80 that the net saw
ing was reduced to the figures stated.
These are the principal items en-
tcring into the general account OF
current expense. There are also the
items of Justice court, constable,
courthouse expense. care Of the poor.
elections, ETC., but none of them are
great in amount, nor in several cases
is there way of comparing the needs
of one year with another, as they may
vary greatly. The time allowed for
the preparation Of this report, and
the use which you might make of it
did not seem to me to justify going
into other matters under the head OF
current expense.
Comparative Cost Statement.
will now give comparative state
ment on the cost of certain county
offices. AS far as possible l have Sc