The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-11-15
COMMISSIONERS ANSWER
JUDGE LEVENy PROTEST

Aevens, county Judge, against enter
sng into contract by the County
Court. to cruise the privately owned
simber lands In Harvey county" and
As Commissioners who signed this
contract for the Cruise, we would DO
pleased to have you publish tho fol-
lowing In your paper:
In the protest, Mr.. Levens states:
Firsi si--That the county will derive
mo benefit from such u cruise.
Answering this will say that two
years ago. Mr.. Caldwell appeared be-
fore the County Court and asked tho
County Court to have the privately
owned timber lands OF Harney coun-
~ cruised and | was then. as I am
NOW. In favor OF the privately owned
simber lands Of the county being
~ruised.
find that there are but few coun-
sies In Oregon. having as much prl.
NAtely owned timber land as Harney
county has. which has not had a
county cruise and as the matter now
stands, the amount and value OF the
esmber resources OF Harney county
ss matter of mere conjecture.
After this cruise has been compiet-
cd. we still have definite information
pertaining to this resource which
saay he used at any future time aud
In which the public Is generally In
aerssted and then all privately owned
climber lands OF the county will be
uaxs,d equally on u standard market
vslue.
Of course the amount OF timber
On the various tracts OF land differ
and u In certainly the equitable
method To fix the valuation value on
ahe actual amount of timber on each
parcel OF land.
Article Two OF Mr.. Levens Pro-
ses, states---That there are no funds
available and upon this answer de-
ncnds and calls for "a close investi-
xafion OF the financial condition OF
she county on the date the contract
Nas entered into. The facts are as
Bellows:
The Budget was prepared and pub
si'shed In December. 1918. and the
amount OF taxes subsequently levied
ny The county. did not exceed the
amount provided for In such budget
sy ten per cent as provided for under
she law.
The levy for county purposes for
ohe year 1918 was not greater than
rha, OF the proceeding year. plus
vn per cent increase which IL pro-
~sicd Tor by the constitution.
The accounts OF the county were
szperted and balanced to December |
Slst 1918. by W. E. Huston. account
ant.
The summary prepared at that |
etrne showed that the resources of |
shr county, In excess OF all It's liabii. |
ashss on Dec. 3ist 1913. amounted to
SIs.e25.0
However this summary showed n
deficit against the County general
suu1--
On Dec. 3ist 1918. there
WAS outstanding unpaid
warrants against Cen.
Fund amounting TO S3t,tiO.5O
essh on hand In Gen. Fund
said date 25.tss.5s
Amount overdraft Gen.
Fund Dec. 3ist 1918 s.923.s4
The budget provided a total TO be
eaised for general county purposes for
1873 OF $I6.Ob9.bO.
In consideration OF this matter. Il
- am material TO determine how much
OF The levy for general county pur-
poses has been collected TO this date.
After the levy is made. the payment
of taxss is regarded as "a legal GER
saiuty and for that reason. we must
Sxxume that the full amount OF the
t~vy has been collected.
While II In true that the budget
shows that the county plans To ex-
Dend the whole amount raised for
general purposes. the expenditure
nceo not be made for the actual items
'nwd In the exact amounts set for In
rhe budget and We find that the
seocrt has made. what may be ciassed
nv Emergency Expenditures" for
certain items not included In the bud
gct and these items must first be con-
sitered In arriving at the standing
Of the General Fund account.
Amount overdraft Gen. Fund. Dec.
II, 1918 ........................$ S.923.94
Emergency expenditures paid out OF
Gen. Fund during the year
znflnenza matters
$6.571.13
determination
4343.09
Squirrel determination
i,i2500 l2.039.22
t)n Gen. Fund outside OF
budget items ..................20 go. .963.i6
Against this debit item. we fnd
the following amounts due to the
General Fund:
Balance unexpended and
unneeded In refund OF
taxes -..---..--.....-...........$ 100000
Advertising delinquent
taxes-No. longer re-