The Coconino sun., 1919-03-07

self and save the chaffeur's salary, and that he would see that the upkeep and maintainance costs were kept as low as was possible to keep them. The board, however, said that from their past experience with both plans, contracting for auto service and run ming a car themselves, they had found the contract system much the cheaper. They said that if the county had sufficient funds on hand, or saw its way to having the funds any time in the near future the board might further consider the purchase of car, but that under the circumstances they would stick to the contract system Sheriff Harrington told the board it need not worry about the money, that he would buy the car himself, and asked if the county would have suffi- cient funds to pay for it inside year. MT. Woolfolk, for the board, answered that he could not tell whether the money could be had by that time or not. The board thought it might con- slider putting an item in the budget which would be prepared the first of July of about two thousand dollars to be used to purchase a car and having the car available the first day of Jan- uary next year.
 Bids for the auto service were con- sidered, Conley and Daugherty having put in bids, and the contract for the year was awarded Daugherty, whose bid was considered by the board to be the cheapest.
 Some discussion of the county's fi- nances was aroused. It was called to the boards attention that funds on hand were running very short and af- ter considering the matter instructions were given to borrow S6000 from the road fund and place to the credit of the general fund, with which to pay current expenses, salaries, etc. The board planned to place this amount back in the proper fund about the first of May. Considering the raise in the cost of living and the fact that salaries outside of officialdom have been raised everywhere, on the first of the year the county granted in- creases to its officials totalling about $500 month, according to Mir. L. c Riley, clerk of the board. This, to- gether with expenses of the "flu" ep- idemic, and the increased cost of labor and materials accounts for the tenn porary shortage in the funds of the county. In the budget for this year, $2000 was allowed as an emergency item. Influenza expenses, which must be paid out of this fund, amounted to something over S20,O00. However, the legislature has passed an emergency measure authorizing counties to make an additional tax levy sufficient to cover the flu expenses. This money will not be available until November. The county took in last year through the road and general fund, S191 zoo and is prohibited by law from raising its taxes to where they will bring in more than ten per cent additional ir any one year. If the limit is taken ad- vantage of the two funds mentioned should bring in $210,S70.
 The board, officially and unofficial ly, welcomed Captain J. B. Wright former county engineer, back to his old job. The place was his whenever he should be discharged from the ser vice and he comes back better quail fled than ever to give the county ef- ficient service The contract of the county with its engineer provides that should the time come when there is no need for an engineer, his services can be dispensed with.
 After passing all officers reports and approving claims on the county, the board adjourned.