Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-05-11

S144.O88.33. The audit Of June 30,
1918, showed a floating dent of $93.-
O81.75. The increase in the defl 1t
in the three and half years slace
that time has been S51, ,0OG,58.
This is revealed from the report
of the auditors who recently conn
pleted a thorough check of the clty S
records covering the period of the
last seven years. The auditors bal
ance sheet is published herewith.
The auditors comments on the re-
port, however, state that the total
deficit on general government trans
actions for the 3'1-2 years amounts
to $29, ,475.13, and that of this
amount $15,770 was incurred for ad-
ditions to public property and $13,-
79l.86 for street improvements, both
of which should have been financed
by bond issues. 1t states that of a
deficit Of $2l. .531,45 for the period
in the water depar-menl, $19,151.02
was expended on new equipment and
extension Of system, which also
should have been financed by bond
issue. The additional loss in the
water department, says the report,
was due to free service to the fire
and street departments.
The auditors were representatives
of Alonzo Richardson & Co., Atlanta,
certified public accountants. Two
copies of the audit have been receiv-
ed, one Of them being filed with the
mayor and city council and now be-
ing in charge of the city clerk and
treasurer, and the other being in the
hands of j. T. Warren, chairman of
Mr.. Warren received this appoint.
ment the first Of this year and was
instrumental in procuring the ex-
haustive audit. The report consists
of 112 typewriter pages of tables
and comments, and has not been
studied yet by most of the members
of the city council. Each, however,
have been handed up-to-date balance
sheets drawn from the new system
of records installed by the auditors.
1t is asserted these monthly balance
sheets will be continued for the in
formation of the mayor and coun-
ell, something that has not been avail
able heretofore.
Sinking Fund Depleted.
The audit reveals that the city
bond sinking fund has a cash bal
ance of $55.74, with 45,6O7.31 due
it. Regarding this deficit the audi
tors report says: '"rhis amount in
cludes the unpaid balance of the pro-
portion of the ad valorem taxes
levied for this purpose, plus the
$18,535.79 shown on the previous
audit report, and does not include
the $2,885 shown on that report as
a loan or the $3,85O56 shown, as pro
rata share of unpaid taxes, as same
was unrecorded in bond commission
records"
Discussing the large total of un-
collected taxes, the audit report saws:
Very few Of the taxpayers listed
have been fl fad, and we respectful
ly call attention to the provisions of
your city charter authorizing the
city clerk and treasurer to issue fins
Immediately after the close of the
current year in which taxes falldue.
This neglect undoubtedly caused the
charging off of $8,616.41, being the
taxes unpaid for years prior to 1914"
1t may be remarked that taxes are
not collectible under the law after
standing for seven years.
Much Uncollected Taxes.
The audit discloses uncollected
taxes for the last eight years of s7O.-
1910, of which $4,323 is listed as
doubtful, leaving balance of S66,-
4l6.10. This total is carried in the
statement as an asset That the
amount will turn out to be consider
ably less, thereby increasing the
floating debt, is the statement of
Chairman Warren, who says that eff
forts to collect this back tax money
are revealing many inaccuracies.
such as Implications and evidences of
tax having been paid without proper
entries having been made. At end of
tins year it is proposed to charge off
whatever are shown to be worthless.
instead of continuing to carry them
as assets when they are actually not
such.
The report dwells at considerable
length upon the manner in which the
city records have been kept, and in
cidentally discloses that check-up of
accounts with Clerk and Treasurer E.
j. Eldridge showed him owing the
city a total of $1,7Q9.77. That this
was merely the result of Inadequate
record keeping in the department
was indicated by the fact that the
amount greatly fluctuated as the
audit went on, it sometimes showing
the city owing Mr.. Eldridge large
amounts. Mr.. Eldridge held note
against the city for $1,39114, which
was balanced against the $1,709.77