Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-07-17
.CITYS FINANCIAL AFFAIRS ARE
EXPLAINED BY IT'S TREASURER
BY o. |. coNkLINe, city Treasure-

SOunIy dlu not nave 10 run the CIRCUIT
courts and in 1911 the first year that
the expenses were provided for by
the county IL cost but SIS, 009. In
1912 the expenses were $4,000, in
1913 $4,000, and last year So, 0oo, an
increase Of almost 900 per cent for
this one branch of the government
alone In four years. Jury fees in
creased nearly 90 per cent over the
previous year. The entire income Of
the general fund OF the city has In
creased but $4,000 IN the same time.
Legislation Given Blame.
The territory assumes the mainte-
nance OF the boys and girls industrial
schools but the city is made to bear
the expenses OF the Juvenile courts,
the maintenance Of the shelter home,
the salary Of the probation officer in
looking after the charges of the terri
tory. The school is territorial insti-
tuition as Is the territorial prison.
For every dollar which is received
by the municipality from the tax on
real and personal property twenty-five
cents must be put aside for perma-
nent Improvement In 1915 this fund
amounted to $f57, 900. T.
In other words the legislature com
pels the. Supervisors to not use ex-
cept for certain specified purposes
certain of the income of the city The
law ties the hands of the city fathers
by alternating from the general rev.
enues Of the city this money which it
is provided shall be spent as the legis-
lature requires, not as the governing
board Of the municipality desires. In
this way the functions Of the supervis-
ors are curtailed. The board may not
raise any money and is permitted to
spend what the Legislature thinks is
enough In the way which the IegisIa-
ttire thinks best and the public howlsl
at the supervisors because results,
which 1t Is thought should be obtain
ed where so much money is received,
are not obtained.
The general fund is the one great
fund which the city heads can handle
as they see At but the balance of the
money is tied up by the legislature.
Welcomes investigation.
/ am glad to see that the Cham.
Der OF Commerce has decided to look
into the present tax law to see If the
counties may have at least what is
absolutely necessary for their needs
Instead of mere figure to base a rate
on, -
The territory is we'll provided for
In the matter of taxes and the rate
for territorial purposes is without lin.
It. plus four per cent to be levied on
the real and personal property if the
territory should find itself running
short in any year in which the legis-
lature does not meet. .s...s&.. III. 4
Has the county any such provision
as this?
The law is silent when it comes to
additional needs Of the county. The
county may know what it wants but
1t never knows what it is going to get
until the territory has been taken
care OF and then the county gets
what happens to be left.
Hampered In Raising Funds. |
The law tells the supervisors to es.
innate the needs Of the county and
to take into consideration all funds
on hand. also outstanding obligations
and make request to the tax asses. |
sor for the amount necessary for cur.
rent expense, permanent Improvement |
and interest on sinking fund on coun. |
ty bonds, il any, for the ensuing year.
So far this looks very good for the
county. The law then goes a step fur. |
Their and tells the assessor that IL the |
county fathers ask for a sum which |
amounts to more than two-thirds of |
one per cent of the then last assessed |
valuation he must cut their demand
down until 1t equals the two-thirds OF |
one per cent of the assessed valuation
and then Jake his pen in hand and |
jot these figures down as a basis for |
a rate. If the assessment is raised |
In the year that the taxes are collect. |
ed the county gets the amount. of the |
basis figures OF maybe a little more, |
but If the assessment goes down then |
the county can whistle and take what |
Is LETT after the specified charges on |
the taxes collected are taken out by |
the territory. #
Definite Sum Needed.
There seems to be growing feeling |
that the tax law should be so amend. |
ed that the supervisors or a board /
of estimate consisting of the supervis.
ors and the elective heads of depart
nents might estimate the needs of the
city government for year and then
have tax levy made. to bring in this
amount. Having definite amount of |
money to work. on, plans could be
made year in advance and policy /
which could be carried out
in municipal affairs. e.. -.
The matter of the payments by the
city under the provisions of the front. |
age tax is also one for the grave con-
Of the legislature and /
fairer division of the cost between the
territory and the city arranged for,
As it is now the city has to pay for
the paving of all roads in front of
territorial property or property owned
and controlled by the United States
and for all property exempt by law
from taxation. believe that the ter.
ritory should be made to stand this