The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1916-04-19

ing 10 the facts IN edCH case.
We find charged against Tax
Collectors office an item $6,659.-
II of uncollected taxes une LIST,
1915, this however is no fault OF
the Tax Collector, F. NJ. Graham.
We are informed, however, by
the Clerk of the County Commits
sieners that some $4,000 OF this
amount has been coiiected.
We regret to report that there
is a misunderstanding between
the County Commissioners and
the Sheriff, w. H. Fountain, that
involves some s., 400 of the coun-
ty funds, the same being held by
said Sheriff to reimburse himself
for certain expenditures claimed
to have been legitimately made
for the County but denied by the
said Commissioners, and said
Commissioners have entered suit
against said Sheriff for the recov-
cry OF said fund
We suggest that the Chairman
OF the County Commissioners
with at least one Of the other COM
missionerS be called before your
body to explain their views of this
matter and also that the Sheriff
be called before YOU to explain his
position in the PREMISES. This
being done with view of settle
ment ii possible without further
litigation We find from the au-
dit or Tax Collectors books an
assessed &dvalorem valuation of
ths taxable property Of the coun-
ty to Dc Sass SO, which at the
hNed rate @. u malls for county
purposes o~--S q revenue of $685.
l2lSQ. We also find that a tax
revenue for cHe corporation of
the county s. +9ol0, making a to-
tai tax revenue nj S43,067.6O We
md tor the state = tax revenue at
the tlxed rate OF - mills. ST.
9.lo, making a total OF S6O,636.-
10 taxes paid on the property of
the county.
We are informed by the clerk
OF the County Commissioners that
the county owes about 100000
for borrowed money. In addition
to this the county owes a bonded
Indebtedness of $57.5OO.OO, max
ing total Indebtedness of S1O7-
10000
In view Of this rather large in
debtedness and further in view Of
the high tax rate under normal
conditions, and in spite of the in
creased valuation Of property by
the tax equalizers we suggest that
your body recommend that our
commissioner exercise every DOS
hbIe economy within the bounds
et reason, i'll the administration
OF the county affairs to the end
that our tax burden may grow
lighter if possible.
We shoNld not lose sight of the
near approach of the Boil Wee
wi and the very probable heavy
losses that will attend it's invasion
and the consequent hardship upon
the part of our citizens to liqui-
date any public or private debts
| ne Clerk of the County Com
mlssioners informs us that there
is on hand cash and available
funds to the amount OF Eighteen
or Twenty Thousand Dollars
which will be sufficient to pay cur
rent expenses for the next several
months.
From a report furnished us bv
the clerk of the County Commits
sloners we find that the following.
expenditures have been made in
the interest of good roads.
lh1s report covers period of
nlne months from June LIST, 1915,
to March LIST, 1916:
Salaries Warden and
Guards ........$2,334.61
Health and Sanitation. 27o,O4
Clothing, etc. .......... 042 "a
PROVISIONS .......... 2,553.07
9toek reed ............ 1857
aioaSe Shoelng and repairs 44045
Small tools and hardware z99 or
Live stock and equipment 1885,
Sundry expense ........ 1929
Building and maintaining
bridges ........... 4,117.03
OtaI .......... S1Z12O 20