Smyrna times., 1926-06-09

rent expenses and debt charges out
of receipts from taxes annually, and
does not resort to borrowings for such
purposes, and thereby create float
ing Indebtedness.
"After selling 100000 of bonds
authorized, the bonded Indebtedness
of Kent county will be 1885, 900. The
proceeds from bonds issued and sold
for concrete roads in Kent county is
said to be $1,9OO,OO0.
''From all reports, it would seem
that Kent county is not meeting cur
rent expenses and debt charges Of
the county from receipts of taxes but
is borrowing money to meet such ex-
penses and charges. It is said that
those in authority in Kent county have
already borrowed $4,000 for the cur
rent year and will be obliged to bor-
row considerably more to meet cur
rent expenses up to the close of the
present fiscal year. It is also said
that fund of $4,000 which has been
accommodating for the past five years
has been practically exhausted, SO
that there has been expended this
year approximately $4,000 more than
was raised by taxation and borrow
ings.
Taxes Run Short $4,000 This Year
Mr.. Clements, you suggested in
your address to the Grange that taxes
this year will probably run short S70,-
900 of the actual needs of the county,
and you expressed the opinion that
taxes this year will have to be in
creased fifty per centum in order to
meet the county demands Of the next
fiscal year. 1t is now a known fact
that the taxes levied last year were
not sufficient to meet the current eX
penses of the county and the debt
charges, and that borrowings have
been resorted to in order to meet
these demands, therefore it is self
evident that unless the tax rate is in
creased this year there will be larg-
er deficit at the end of the next fiscal
year than will exist at the end Of the
present fiscal year.
1T should be manifest to every in
telligent, thoughtful citizen that the
credit of the county cannot be main
tanned by borrowing money to meet
current expenses and debt charges.
The credit of the county will be i'm
paired if sufficient taxes are not levied
and collected to meet such expenses
and charges, and it will prove to be
harmful policy to do otherwise.
There should be no hesitancy on the
-o~+ of arx, 49, ~ ,1yo1yi Jiyor foV +ba
payment of the expenses and Obliga-
tions of the county annually as they
become due from money derived from
taxes and not from borrowings and
in this way avoid adding to the liabil-
tiles of the county. Those in author
ity should provide for revenues suf-
fcient to meet county expenses and
debt charges as they accrue and there
by make possible lessening Of taxes.
IT understand that the debt charges
for this year apart from the interest
charges is $4,000 and that next year
such charges will be 100000.
"If it be the intention to increase
county Indebtedness, to say nothing
about the State, then of necessity
county taxes will be increased; anC
any Indifference to this fact will soon
bring upon the citizens of the county
in a rural community like ours, with
the increased cost Of living, a condi-
ton which most of our people viii
soon find burdensome to meet.
Tax Increases Should Be Avoided
"Mr. Clements, you state a fac
when you suggest that but few o.
our people seem to take into accoun
how much money is raised by taxa
tion, or how it is expended. In thi
the taxpayers make great mistake
Tax levies beyond the abilities Of per
sons, Of small, or limited means Il