The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1914-04-03
A COMMUNICATION
c. ID. Thomas Treats With County Ex-
travagance in Stirring Manner.

erS regarding Inelr sue VI Tue queo-
ton:
l did not come here for the purpose
of making political speech, but
wish as plain business man to talk
to you about the business affairs OF
our county.
1t is very interesting when we COM
pare this county with other counties
of similar size and standing in this
state to see what the result will be
as to the actual expenses compared
with the other counties. In order to
inform myself on this subject | have
taken pains to get the exact figures
and compare Twin Falls with three
other counties. And that comparison
will give you some idea OF whether
Twin Falls county is costing us IN
comparison with those counties, too |
much, to operate the business OF our
county.
You know, sometimes, we allow our
! political beliefs to prejudice our minds
| SO that we are not able to distinguish
clearly from the business standpoint.
| We should look at running the county
| the same as we look at the running
of our own private business. We should
| be Just as economical in conducting
! the public affairs of the county as we
would if we owned the business, and
was operating it for our own benefit
And in making this comparison | wish
| to make it without prejudice to any
political party and make 1t as COM
parison of business, of which | am one
of the stockholders.
The county officers sometimes take
Il offense because we dare to presume to
inquire into the business and the cost
of running the county. They seem to
lose track of the idea that they are
nothing more or less than our SER
wants. That we have hired them and
pay them salary to do our work for
us, and as masters we have right to
know what they are doing, and, wheth-
err they are conducting their office on
an economical basis and whether we
are getting value received for the mon
ey we pay.
The voters of Twin Falls county are
anxious to know why they are paying
such enormous taxes. And, where does
the money go? And the time has come
for the voters, who are the stock
holders in the corporation, to demand
to know what is being done with their
money | do not charge any ineffi-
cheney in any county, office, but, do
/ believe that we can get this same ef-
ficiency at less expense. And, in or
der to prove my point l have made a
careful analysis of Twin Falls county
as compared with three of the above
named counties. In choosing the a.
bove named counties for comparison
| have tried to be fair, l have tried to
choose counties where conditions are
similar to Twin Falls county. Latah
county is county practically the same
size as Twin Falls, it is county made
up almost entirely of farmers, agr1-
culture is almost the only resourse
of that county Kootenai county is the
largest county of the three and one
of the richest counties, it is made VI
| of agriculture, lumber and mining in
interests, it is very expen
| sive county to operate as parts OF i
are very inaccessible Canyon is az
agricultural county and irrigatet
same as Twin Falls county. Now
these three will make a fair comparl
son with Twin Falls county and, t.
begin making this comparison we viii
base it upon. the assessed value II
each county.
j Twin Falls county, assessed valua
ton, $2O,422,250; Kootenai county, as
sessed valuation, $28,164,S36; Canyol
county, assessed valuation, S29,OS2,
$50; Latah county, assessed valuation
$23, 1S6,995.
Now, you will notice that the tire
counties have taken have all large
valuation than Twin Falls county
Now, let us see how the total cost Q
operating Twin Falls county will com
pare. The total cost OF operating wi
Falls county for one year is $780,
%o%n ~ oF *fpo0
county for one year Is $1O4,964, bu
you will notice that Kootenai count
has about $8,OOO,0O0 more, assesse
valuation than Twin Falls county.
The total cost for operating Canyo
county for one year is $81,261 or the
operate Canyon county lOr $4,000 les
than Twin Falls county although
has almost $9,0OO,0OO more assessibl
property. Latah county is operate
for total cost Of $55,168 or savin
OF $4,000 year over Twin Fall
county. Although, mind you, Lata
county has almost 100000 more as
sessable property than Twin Fall
county.
Let us compare the tax you pay M
Voter, on each $1,000 value that 20
own. In Twin Falls county at tn
county seat you pay $40 for each 81
900 worth of property you own
Kootenai county you pay $37.4O,
Canyon county you pay $3.50, in l.
tab county you pay 1920. Each
them less than Twin Falls county, an
yet, each OF them are 100000
100000 bigger than Twin Fal
county
n Now, the next question, when v
find we are paying too much, whel
Is the money going? Let us take fe
things that would be directly benef
cial to you, Mr.. Voter, two things
= which you are deeply interested, Il
= schools and the roads. Does tn
enormous amount we pay. In Tw
Falls county, 60 for the benefit
the county schools and county road
Let US compare that. in Twin Fal