Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1914-10-16
COUNTY TAX LEVY
l.27 MILLS LOWER
PROTESTS OF TAXPAYERS LEA
GUE pROAlpTS REDUCTIONS
TOTALLING $f1,223

Reductions of $17,223.S7 under
lhe amount raised by taxation last
year, effecting a decrease of 1.27
mills in the tax levy, are made in
the budget as finally adopted by the
county commissioners this week, fol-
lowing the protests made last week
by the Thurston County Taxpayers
league. The final budget is $780,
524.32 lower than the estimate as
originally made.
The decrease was made by reduc--
ing the amount to be raised for in
terest and sinking fund from $500
TO $1,000; eliminating $1,000 orig
inally Included for elections, because
there are none next year, and cut
ting the appropriation for the treas
urer's office $500, the auditors s72O.
the weights and measures depart
ment $300, the engineers $270,
courthouse expenses $500, Jail ex-
penses "a cents, soldiers and sailors
relief S19.70, the county school funf
Sl,lS0, and the general road anG
bridge fund S36,969.20. These are
offset by an increase of S2,22O in the
appropriation for the five road dis
tricts.
Tax Levy 1871 Mills.
AS a result, the total amount to-
be raised by taxation in the county
will be s230,240.6S instead Of s264.
l7o as originally proposed and $247,-
at4.55 raised for the current year.
making tax levy of 1T.71 mills for
next year as against 1898 for this.
The budget provides $68,619.66 for
current expenses next year, $43O.3U
for soldiers and sailors relief. s54.-
$40 for county schools, $43,OSO.72
for the general road and bridge fund
and S62,220 for the five road dis
trlcts. The commissioners at first
proposed to spend $4,000 for roads
and bridges next year and $50, 900 in
the various road districts.
Discussing the budget, George f.
Yantis. attorney for the Taxpayers.
league, says:
Yantis Discusses Budget.
ITO the Editor. The Washington
Standard:
Since the Republican ring is rails
Ing a great shout of praise over the
recent slight cut in the county budget
for the coming year. and predicting
Republican administration Of the
greatest economy, / think it well to
call the attention of the people to the
facts which led up to the budget re-
duction, in order than no one may
be misled.
I'm passing l might also call at
tention to the fact that it is one thing
to reduce budget just before elec-
ton, for campaign purposes. and an
other to conduct the various offices
within the amount set aside by the
reduced budget, after the election has
passed. In view of past performances
of the Republican gang, the taxpayer
has grave reason to doubt whether
economy in administration will ever
be brought about by the present
crowd. if returned, though a very nice
looking budget should be gotten up
before election.
Certain Reductions Asked.
''The budget as first proposed by
the commissioners and officers of the
county, really provided for an in ;,
crease over former extravagant ex-
penditures. On the last day allowed
by law for protest, Mr.. Mcdowell
president of the Thurston County
Taxpayers league, and I. went be-
fore the commissioners to protest
against certain items in the general
expense fund Of the budget. We call
ed particular attention to the esti-
mates for the auditors Office, the
treasurer's Office. the Office of county
sealer of weights and measures, the
engineers Office and that of the COM
missioners. We also recommended
certain sums as the maximum which
ought to be allowed for these offices.
and in every case our recommends
tion was based on the expenditures
of former administrations of the same
offices in this county, or the cost OF
administration of the same offices in
other counties.
"On comparative showing. we
thought the auditors salary cost