The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1916-04-19
q to the facts in each case.


Collectors office an item $6,650.-
II of uncollected taxes June 1st,
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 $1,000 OF this
amount has been cofiected.
We regret to report that there
is a misunderstanding between
the County Commissioners and |
the Sheriff, w. H. Fountain, that
involves some 81, 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
misslOners 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 if possible without further
litigation. We find from the au-
dit OF Tax Collectors books an
assessed advalorem valuation of
the taxable property of the coun-
ty to be $3,455,576 which at the
hXed rate of II mills for county
purposes brings a revenue Of S38,-
lZl.5O. We also find that tax
revenue for the corporation of
the county s, 496. 10, making a to-
tai tax revenue OF $43067.6O We
md tor the state a tax revenue at
the liked rate of 4 II mills, S17,-
SOTO, 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 $50,OOO.OO
Tor borrowed money. In addition
to this the county owes a bonded
Indebtedness of $50. 10000. max
ing total Indebtedness of S1O7.-
10000
In view Of this rather large in
dcbtedness and further in view of
the high tax rate under normal
conditions, and in spite of the in
creased valuation Of property bv
the tax cqualizers we suggest that
your body recommend that our
commissioner exercise every DOS
slblc economy within the bounds
let reason, in the administration
Iot the county affairs to the end
that our tax burden may grow
lighter if possible.
| We shohld not lose sight of the
near approach of the Boil Wee
VII and the very probable heavy
losses that will attend its invasion
and the consequent hardship upon
the part of our CITIZENS to lioui-
date any public or private debts.
he clerk OF the County Com
mlsSloners informs us that there
IS on hand cash and available
funds to the amount OF Eighteen
or Twenty Thousand Dollars
which will be sufficient to paw cur
rent expenses for the next several
months.
From a report furnished us bv
the clerk of the County Commits
sloners we find that the following
expenditures have been made in
the interest of good roads.
Ih1s report covers a period of
nine months from June list, 10E5
to March LIST, 1916N
salaries Warden and
GUARDS ............$ 2,33461 |
Health and Sanitation. 27oO4
SIotnlng' etc. ....... 9427S
PROVISIONS .......... 2,553o7
TtocK reed ............ 1857 |
Horse shoeing and repairs 44O.45 |
Small tools and hardware 1890 |
Live stock and equipment 2,S96.75 |
Sundry expense 1920
Building and maintaining
bridges ''........... 4,11793
Iotdl .''"..........$ sly, 120.3S
ms IS an average expenditure
OF Sl'9Oz.OO per month and an an
nual expenditure of S22.S27O0
=. ms seems an excessive expen-
diture for the amount Of worl-