Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1916-07-19
COUNTY LEGISLATION.
Some Agitation Over the Increase Of VAL
ues and Tax Raise. Taxes May
Be Reduced Next Year as
Less Will Be Needed.

The quarterly term of county court
adjourned about noon Tuesday of last
week ter disposing of all business
before them. Considerable time was
consumed Monday morning with talks
relative to the recent assessment OF
property, which showed an increase OF
a lutte less than one million dollars.
In discussing the matter it developed
that some persons feel that the assess
ment of last year should have been
used and a special levy made to meet
the interest on the 5000, 900 road bonds
recently sold, which amounts to $40, :
900. Owing to the fact that the sale
of the bonds was considered problemat-
ical, no provision had been made to
meet the interest on same for this
year, which means that the county
starts this fiscal year behind $4,000.
The tax assessment as fixed by the as
SCISSOR and reviewed by the board of
equalization provides for the necessary
funds for paying the interest of $40, 600
on the road bonds next year, hence the
assessment had to be made sufficiently
large to take care of the funds that
must be borrowed either from some
other department of the county finances
or from some bank or individual.
That means that the assessment this
year must provide $4,000 for payment
of interest on the road bonds, but next
year the assessment will not need to
be more than half the amount Of this
year. 30 tar as interest on the 500, 600
in road bonds goes. That should and
would mean a reduction IN the tax rate
next year or a reduction on assessed
valuations.
After considerable discussion no
change was attempted, as it was clear
that any such move would be contrary
to the law. Any relief that property
owners get fom the assessment as now
fixed will have to come after making
application to the state board.
Judge G. p. Burnett made his quar-
terly report and incidentally explained
the tax situation and stated that after
having gone over the situation very
carefully with Trustee James Smith
they had found that the tax rate for
this year must be 81 90 on the SlOO val
uation, IN the aggregate, in order to
meet the needs of the county.
Judge Burnett stated that he had
drawn a warrant for $4,000, to pay the
interest on the $500, 900 road bonds, but
as there was not that amount IN the
Pike Bond fund 1t would stand over
drawn until such time as the collected
taxes for this year should overcome
the shortage.
The report of Judge Burnett shows
the bonded Indebtedness of the county
to be as follows.
Railroad .............$ 5000
Court House. e............ $4,000
Pike .............24 24O, 900
Total ..............$2 .$275, 900
There Is IN the Pike Bond sinking
fund little over $1,000
H, r. Webb, as commissioner of the
Door, submitted his report, which was
approved.
Superintendent j. s. Cline made
verbal report and stated that the school
board hoped to be able to run all rural
schools five months this year.
DR.. W A. Reed made his report as
county physician and gave an itemlzed
account of expenses incident to an cpl
demic of small pox that had prevailed
at Westel, but which was entirely
stamped out
The bill was for s45.76. The court al
lowed $8.8 that had been paid for vac
cination points, but declined to allow
the remainder.
A bill was presented amounting te
about s75 that had been made by Bill
BIedsoe while suffering with smallpox
at. Westel, but the court declined t.
pay same.
The following persons were released
from road work and payment OF pol
tax because of physical disability
jackson Wyatt, Henry Barnwell. K. s
Woody, William Whltlow, Vincen
Handy.
&, G. Black made an itemized repor