The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-01
STATEMENT OF COUNTY FINAN.
CES.
Commissioner Cottingham Gives IN
teresting Data on the Financial
=, Condition o. County.

Commissioner Cottingham Gives m
teresting Data on the Financial
| =. Condition Of County.
Editor Herald:-In 1910 the
County of Dillon voted bonds in the
amount of sS0,000.00 for the pur-
pose of building court house and
Jail.
In 1912 there was a bond issue
for the purpose of building and
improving the roads of the county in
the sum of $100,00O.00.
In 1917 there was created a past
Indebtedness commission for the pur-
ipose of settling outstanding current
alleged fraudulent indulgences by
certain county officials. This commits
sion borrowed $2S,000.0O.
The S80,O00.00 debt becomes due
in 1910. The s100,000.00 debt comes
due in 1910. The county is paying
the interest on these bonds of indebt-
edness semi-annually at the rate of
S per cent.
To take care of this interest and to
provide sinking fund by which the
bonds shall be retired at the date on
which they become due there is lev
led each year taxes in the amount Of
three and one-half mills. The amount
borro wed by the past Indebtedness
commission will likely be retired or
paid in 1920 as there is special tax
of one and one-half, mills leyied for
this purpose and to the credit Of this
fund now is $16,000.00 which has
accumulated by virtue Of the said
tax. In 1916, I am told by the treas
urer, ]. R. Watson, there was only
about 100000 in the sinking fund
to take care of the bonded indebt-
edness which totals s1S0,000.00
Since that date, 1916, the treasurer
has built up this fund to where there
is now to its credit $50, 100000. This
shows conclusively that the sinking
fund had been up to 1916 severely
neglected.
The money in the sinking fund
which from the above figures
: amounts to $66,000.0O is loaned out
by the treasurer at a good rate Of
interest and if he has the good luck
in the future that he has had since
J 1916 there will be enough money in
the treasurers hands to pay off the
bonded Indebtedness of $1S0,000.00
: long before it is due.
In 1915, the county commissioners
bought from Mr.. and Mrs. l.. R. Craig
} a piece Of land just across the Little
Pee Dee river containing rs acres to
L. be used as the county Poor Farm"
For such purpose however, it has nev-
er been used. The amount paid for it
was $5,000.00. To meet this indebt-
, edness there was and has been levied
: a tax amounting annually to one
fourth Of one mill. This small levy
will cease after this year as it will
have served its purpose.
! The present Board of Commission
ers. composed Of P. A. George, C. P
, Hayes and L. Cottingham and the
, Road Commissioner j. C. Adams are
at a loss to know what to do with the
Poor Farm" It rents for only a
small amount. To equip 1t with prop
er buildings and to furnish the build
iings properly for habitation would
require an outlay of money which the
present board can i'll afford to spare
or provide. Its use as home for. the
paupers of the county would necessi-
tate the employment of competent
superintendent and such a person
would be hard to find, at reason
able salary. The present value Of the
farm is estimated at eight to ten
thousand dollars. The county is
. spending annually on its paupers 81
900, and they receive towards their
, upkeep, only a pittance, as we are
able to pay them, each, only $500
per month. When one dies the burial
expenses have to be paid from this
sum.
: 1t Is hoped by the commissioners
that some proper solution Of the pau
per problem Can be worked out be-
fore another year.
Since January /, 1920, the present
Board of Commissioners has paid out
| on 1919 claims s35,426.40. In this
amount was a note made in 1919 for
| $30,000.00. This was borrowed
: against the taxes of 1919 and became
due February /, 1920. 1t Is expect
ed that the tax executions now being
; issued and being collected will take
, care of the balance of the said
amount. $5,526.40. The board of
commissioners should and ought to
have the money from the taxes of
1879 to run on in 1920. Instead Of
| this condition, which is the ideal and
. healthy one for any busine SIS institu-
ton, the county is forced 10 borrow
money to run on, and it has borrow
ed $40, 100000. 1t will have to borrow
about SIS, 100000 more to meet its OBJ
; ing in this fall.