The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-03-28
co COMPTROLLER
SUGGESTS SOME
TIMELY LAWS
HON. W. " KNOTT. SUPPLEMENT.
ING JANUARY REPORT, MAKES
SOME GOOD POINTS IN FINAN.
GAL LEGISLATION.


governor. state Comptroller ". r..
Knott throws out some suggested
state financial legislation which ii, by
those who are IN position 10 state.
timely and AZ the same time much
needed Hts letter and quoted reepm.
mendat.ons along this line are as fol-
bows
From State conptrsils.
Tallahassee, Ella. March 90. 1917.
iicn. Park Trammell. Governor %
Florida.
SIR ] have the honor to submit
herewith, "a supplementary "a ms re-
port 81 aJnuars ist. 1918. a report on
tHe oDSratlon ~ chapter g42s. rclat-
ing to county finances
County Finances.
Appended hereto viii Be found a Sc
rirs ~ statements condensed and con-
solidated from the reports ~ the
County Commissioners and Clerks ~
the Circuit Courts Ter the two six
months periods from Jolly 1. 1918. 10
June 30. 1914 showing the receipts
and disbursements and the balances
outstanding warrants for each fund
bv counties. and q table ~ the per
capita expenditure on each ~ the sew
eral accounts based upon the United
States Census % 1910 The detailed
reports made under this Chapter es2s
are on file In this office and il the
offices ~ the various Circuit Clerks
subject 90 inspection by the public AZ
ail times condensed 81 tement o.
each - tie periods referred g. has
been on ahshed la a newspaper ln The
county e. which they apply as re-
euirea hy law
There is now, under the operation
90 this statute. Ia use la each county
81 the state a uniform and compre-
nenF.ve method - accounting and the
condensed statements publiahea in
eneh county every six months in COM
piiamce with the provisions - this
Act. have given 90 the citizens aud
t. payers the opportunity 20 be-
come coRuiEant Of the financial con
aluon 90 the several counties. and 10
knuN scmething more - thn sources
{ and amounts 81 the public revenues.
and the purpose and character 2 the
+ disbursements thereof This pdhncity
~ ths financial transactions Eaa sI-
ready resulted Ia a tendency towards
wnrc economical administration 81
/ County affairs
Suggested Legislation.
An inspection ~ the statistical IN
bles submitted herewith presents 4
condition ia county finances thar
seems O. demand attention and urne
7 some corrective measures. THE devils
I inE - new sources ~ revenues. or the
z increasing - revenues from adopted
/ sources. Is ~ secondary import nce "a
The careful conservinE and right "a
penditure of the public funds aftNE
+ they have reached the public treasury
/ Excluding from consideration the
4 special Funds and the bonded debtR
+ which are presumed 10 be cared FOR
( b. special taxes. the. deficits o. the
/ county funds proper Of All the coun-
+ ties on June 90. 1914. amounted %
I ssas sTas4. 20 which should In con.
I slderinK existing conditions. De added
I tire deficits 81 the County school Fund
II i.TaAE2sss.-a total - s1sse-
/ essso
This vast debt IL more dangerou,
+ in Sc tendency than IA the amount az
I Il shows an increase over the same
/ date q the previous year Of s6Ts
4 ss3ss. Il may De said that some q
/ the counties have IN some o. ths
/ funds, = net cash sAlance. but as tbs
4 money 81 enc county or Of a particu-
/ lar fund. cannot BE used o. another
f county. o. for another fund the
/ amounts given are IN effect net Tn
/ dsatedneas.
In view OF the condition disclosed
/ 8 the tables appended. take the I'D
/ ertv of suggesting that legislation %
enacted providing FOR the payment q
the existing Indebtedness 81 the seY-
I eral counties and restricting future
expenditures 20 the revenues collected
/ and the ADOPTION of tire Budget" sys.