The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-12-05
LETTER FROM LIGHT

EulCOf SCar. MS leCCeF Is WrlLLeu
for the purpose of calling the atten-
ton of the taxpayers, the coming
grand jury and our judge to the large
disbursements and to recommend to
our governor and the next legislature
the necessity of reducing state and
county taxes.
These figures are taken mostly
from state comptroller's reports. On
page 5. 1921 report says cost for that
year was S10,102,0O0; for 1911 the re-
port says the cost was $2,965,000,
difference in the two years of $7,198,-
900. The cost of the state govern
ment was $1O,1O2,0OO. Receipts for
the same year were $685., 900. Ex-
penses more than receipts, S611 900.
These reports show that on December
81, 1920, there was a surplus of cash
hand of $2,10O,OOO.
Is it not best for the taxpayers of
this state to have our governor and
legislature reduce the. tax levy so
that this vast surplus will be lowered.
Why are the different departments of
the state permitted to overdraw their
accounts S611 900 in one year Does
not large surplus in the state treas
ury tend to increases expenses?
The comptroller's report for 1921
shows an assessment of S445,000 in
the county and for the year 1911 the
report says the assessment was $685.
900, making a difference in the two
years of $279,833. There will be added
to the 1922 levy the seven-mill road
bond tax, the increased auto license
and gas tax, making a total of nearly
100000 more, and our county will be
assessed S5OO.O0O for 1922.
Marion county ranks first of all
counties in the assessed value of live
stock. If all the live stock in the
county was sold for taxes it would not
be enough to pay the assessment for
one year. The cities and incorporated
towns in the county are not assessed
enough to pay the taxes for two years
The IT'S miles of main line railroad
will meet our tax bill for three years
The total assessed valuation will pay
our tax bill for but eighteen years.
! In 1913 less than three steers paiG
all my taxes. In 1922 it took fourteen
steers of the same size or or $50 bush
els of peanuts to pay my taxes. In
farm value it took six times as much
farm product to pay my taxes fol
1921 than it did for 1918 Every
farmer in Marion county who has nc
other income but farm sales has met
with the same condition.
| Here are the reasons why our take:
are so high. Our tax collectors gross
Ipay for 1921 was S6,35S %; the clerl
of the court was paid S7,437.11; the
sneriff's pay was s8,94246; county
judges pay was s4,0s9.80; the county
budget for s10,6OO to pay the feed bill
of county convicts and prisoners il
Jail. This is enough pay to feed a;
actual cost 140 prisoners 365 days
| wy many yCdIS dSO IIIG ClSIh VI III
court was paid as clerk for the count,
commissioners from $40 to s75 pc
month. Now his pay is S165 pc
Fmonth. The cost of the Office of tn
superintendent of schools is likewis
high, and the cost of road construction
and repairs shows a worse condition.
In behalf of the owners of the 24O
different pieces of property that wer
advertised for taxes last spring, an
in behalf of the low sales of farr
goods and ready cash on hand, I be
of you to have our governor and tn
next legislature to cut out some O
the immense cost of state and count
1 government and to reduce the stat
! tax levy so there will be little surplu
in our state treasury. Now is the tim
I for our, taxpayers to appeal to ou
lawmakers to reduce costs of stat
and county government.
Reddick, Dec. l. L. S. Light.