Imperial Valley press., 1915-01-27
Half Million for County
Above All the Salaries;
Yet Funds Are Busted
MUST GO HALF-YEAR
WITHOUT ANY MONEY

Salaries and General Expenses Must
Ee Siaved Off and Three Road
Funds Are Depleted, With No Rev
enue in Sight for Months.
There have recently been published
in some of the newspapers of the
county comments on the Economy"
practiced by the board of supervisors.
The Press saw no reason to join in
this praise, but that it might speak
with justice and fairness to all par
ties in this matter the Press called
on County Treasurer J. Stanley
Brown for a statement of the receipts
and disbursements of the several
funds for four years. Mr.. Brown
went to a great deal of trouble in
compiling the figures asked for, and
in presenting them the Press believes
it is giving the public the most i'm
portant data regarding the affairs of
Imperial county ever published, and
it hopes the figures will be careful
ly studied.
The Press does not undertake to
pass judgment on the policy of the
Supervisors, but gives the facts and
leaves it to each individual to form
his own opinion.
A note was sent to each of the su-
pervisors and to ex-Supervisor Ed
f. Boyd. ten days ago, asking for
statements from the supervisors, but the
only response received to date was
from Mr.. Boyd. 1t is hoped the su-
pervisors will yet make a statement.
The notes sent were identical, and
were as follows:
"Jan. 16, 1915.-Dear Sir: I am
compiling a table showing the amount
of taxes collected by Imperial coun
ey each year for six years, the
amount for each of these years in
the general fund and each of the road
funds.
81 find that the general fund and
three road funds are now depleted
and that throughout the coming year
there will be no money for salaries or
current expenses except about $685.
600 to be collected in April. This is
in spite of the fact that the cash re-
oeipts of the county are three or four
times as great as they were six years
ago.
"In publishing the facts in this con-
nection, I am writing you and each
member of the board to request a
statement, as 1 believe it is only fair
that the supervisors should be given
an opportunity to explain the situa-
ton from their point of view at the
same time the figures are printed
"Yours very truly,
"E. F. HOWE"
The only reply received was as fol-
lows:
"Holtville, Cal, Jan. 10, 1915.-E.
F. Howe, Ell Centre, Cal.-Dear Sir:
About this fiscal years finances of
Imperial county, beg to say, the taxes
were materially reduced in most
cases, except, possibly, on real estate
values close in to the towns, where
it was noticeably too low. Holtville
City was cut nearly in half. Most
farm taxes are less than a dollar per
acre. Compare this with any other
southern county in the state. Our
supervisors were too modest this year
and will have to figure very close to
make both ends meet.
"You will find, Mr. Howe, that the
five men on that board will cut all
bills to the limit (you have had some
experience with them) and take nc
chances on boost. | know that
from very sad experience on the E
Centro Yuma road. l thank you for
the interest you have taken in finan
cling the county and I know the boart
favors suggestions as to the county
management and give them due consid
Grafton; don't condemn without close
investigation, however. Yours, etc,
"ED E. BOYD"
Mr.. Boyd's letter carries the i'm
preston that the supervisors have
reduced the taxes this year, and thu
following statement of taxes collected
this year and for four preceding years
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO