The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-03-26
UNscRAMBLED EGGS TO ORDER

Years ago a wise man said it was
impossible to unscramble eggs. Per-
haps he was right. but it has been
proven that other things. more i'm
portant than eggs. can be unscrambl-
ed when they have 20 be.
Marion county must unscramble it's
taxation for 1920---or try to.
In April 1920 an election was held
to decide If the county should bond
for $3.50, 900, to make permanent i'm
provement on the Dixie Highway and
the state road running thru eastern
Levy and western Marion county.
Bends carried by a big majority. When
the county commissioners of Marion
met to make up their budget they
made a levy of seven mills to start
a sinking fund to pay for the bends.
But when the time came to sell bonds,
there was slump in the market, and
they could not be disposed of except
at disastrous discount; consequent
ly the commissioners refused to sell.
Meantime, taxes for 1920 became
cue and collection began. Consider
able money had been paid in when q
small proportion of tax payers refls-
ed to pay, unless THAI part of the levy
calling for seven mills for the sinking
fund, was eliminated. Some of them
offered to pay their taxes less the
seven mills. The tax collector had
no authority to accept less than the
full amount for the state and coun-
ty, which was forty-two nills-four
cents and one-fifth of cent On the
dollar.
The compliments brought the case
before Judge Bullock of the fifth ju-
dicial circuit. The Judge decided
against them and collection of taxes
| went on. But the claimants took
the case to the supreme court, which
| decided in their favor. They follow
ed this up by obtaining an injunction
| against the tax-collector from col
lecting any taxes except with the
seven mills for the sinking fund left
out.
| The commissioners met this morn
ing and passed resolution based on
the supreme court decision.
| Herein comes the unscrambling.
Over a hundred thousand dollars IF
taxes have been collected, and of this
/ several thousand dollars have gone
Pinto the sinking fund to help pay for
roads bonds when due.
It looks like it is going to be an
expensive experience for Marion. The
time for payment of taxes is almos.
up. The tax collector must close his
books and prepare the annual delin
| quent tax list. After this work is
over and the delinquent property sold,
it will be some time in June. He
can then pay back the seven mills t.
those who have paid and claim them.
1t will be long and expensive job
for the county. It will also be a
troublesome piece of business for tax
payers. They will all have to come
to the courthouse and present theiz
claims. With most it will be only
a few dollars-with some only a few
cents. With the average it will no.
pay the expenses of the trip.
It will hardly pay the compliments
i If the roads are built-and it is likely
they will be-they will have to pay
their share, sooner or later. They
will have to nay their lawyers bills
probably more than the taxes they
have saved. They will also have te
pay their share of any litigation OF
other expense the county is put TO.
| Also. If the compliments mad quiet.
| ly paid their money with their fellow
citizens, the seven mills they com.
plain of would have gone into the
sinking fund, which is deposited ir
one of the Ocala banks, where il
draws interest for the county. II
would have made q tidy little sum Il
start off with. But now II paid bacl
to the taxpayer, he viii have to pay
it again. and then some more
4 It is likely that good many tax
payers will let their seven mills sta!
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