Catoctin clarion., 1918-07-04
new TAX RATE $1.25
2Octs. Added By Commits.
sioners To Clear Up Debt.
Commissioners In Statement
Charge Preceding Board With
Politics And Neglect To
Levy Needed Funds
Levy Needed Funds

| The levy was made on the new OASIS OF
$37, ,S99, 753, against last years basis OF
$31, ,446, 57l, the recent reassessment hav.
ing added $6, 453, 18l.s' to the old basis.
The state tax rate is 364 cents on the
$lOO making a total new state and county
rate of ST. 61a on the $l00. The rate
yields a total of $573, TAG. 80 for county
purposes After adjusting the rate the
commissioners made the following state
ment:
"The new Board of County Commits
sioners believed it to be their duty to
fully inform the taxpayers of the county
why the tax rate, for the present year,
is going to be $l.25 on the one hundred
dollars, an increase of 20 cents over last
years tax rate. For some years the
Board of County Commissioners have
been playing politics, irrespective of par
| ty, in the management of the affairs of
the county, that is to say, instead of
making the tax rate what it should be,
to meet all the expenses of the county,
known at the ii ne of the levy, tn e board
would make the rate considerably less, /,
then resort to borrowing money at per
cent. to meet expenses, which the board
knew full well, when the levy was made,
would have to be done Therefore the
taxpayer would not only pay the debt
finally not levied for, but in addition,
III h,,,a 70 a
money borrowed, while the county money
was receiving only four per cent. inter-
est. The amount which was not provid-
ed for in the 1917 levy, and which the
board knew had to be met, for which
certificates had to be issued, bearing 6
per cent interest was $54, ,024. There
fore the rate for 1917 should have been
81. 25 l-3 cents, while it was only $l.O5
"The members of the board, hereto
fore, either desiring to be reelected or
for party benefit, kept down the tax
rate, and resorted to the borrowing
scheme. Now it is the purpose of the
present board to run the office for the
next four years on business principles
and levy for every dollar needed to meet
the expenses of the county, thereby saw
ing the taxpayer per cent. interest,
the latter policy in vogue for many years,
and in addition finally put the county on
cash basis. 1t may not be good pol
icy with which, at present to get back
into office, but it will finally commend it
self to every taxpayer.
The board had to provide in the 1918
levy for certificates issued to pay
for the following: The Burkittsvile an
Knoxville State Aid Road costing S5,
594. rs; the Monrovia and Hyattsville
State Aid Road costing $4, $780,; repairs
to State Aid Roads costing $5l59l; for
other special road improvements costing
$25, 3lo also more money for public
schools. The levy for 1917 for public
school purposes, on basis of $3l ,446. 57l
was $l25, 786. Is, fiat 40 per cent rate.
The present board had to levy for 1918
for public school purposes $685. 794. l8, a
fiat so cent rate on basis of $37, 899, 752.
The board also had to levy for 1918 for a
probation officer the sum of 5000. Also
to pay certificates amounting to 5000 for
1917 probation officer. Also $1,000 or
dered by the Legislature had to be pro-
vided for in the 1918 levy for the Mary
land Industrial School for Boys and Girls.
"Now add together $64,024, which
amount should have been levied for in
1917, and $685. 900 for special road i'm
provements, all of which is represented
in certificates bearing g per cent interest
also add to this $4,000 more than the
1917 levy for public schools, and 81, 500
for probation officer, together with $1,000
for the Maryland Industrial School for
Boys and Girls and you have Al cents
added to your tax rate for 1918. Had it
not been for the above items, part of
which should have been levied for in 1917,
and the other part representing certifi-
Gates bearing six per cent interest over
which the present board had no control
as the $38, 900 item had been contracted
for in 1917 and the tax rate would have
been 81 cents.
"The taxpayer must also remember
that the present board has levied for
enough money to meet all expenditures
possible to anticipate for the coming
year. Also that everything including la
Dor, material and supplies are much
higher than last year. Had the legisla-
ture made all taxes payable September
|, there would have been four months
interest saved on all certificates, or ST.
300, or two cents added to the 1918 levy
to pay this interest.
ut may be in order to inform the pub
lie what constitutes the item of $64, 024.
1t is made up as follows: Health Depart
ment, 1921; contingent account, 1000;
road and bridge fund, $4,000; Nogle
iron bridge, already contracted for in
1877 $2,820; public roads more than the
levy, $ll 600; the new assessment which
the commissioners opposed with a II their
might and main, $4,000; road machines
already bought and in use in 1917, 81. 1872,
Montevuo and Jail over and above the
appropriation. Sill 900; Red Cross which
should have been levied for in 1917, $3,-
600; Thurmont-Deerfield provided for in
1917, $6,34l; but no appropriation pro-
vided and the Buckeystown road per-
centage force account begun in 1917, SO,