Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1927-09-22
FISCAL AFFAIRS
OF THE COUNTY
A. M. Pullen and Company's Audit
for Past Six Months Recommends
More Promt Settlement of Taxes
and Urges Rigid Economy

A NJ. PuIlen and Company, GER
tified public accountants Of Raleigh,
have recently completed an audit Of
fiscal affairs of the county for the
period of six months, December 1,
1926, to June 80, 1927. The audit
covers 66 pages and discusses in
detail the accounts Of Sheriff Fal'tjl-
ing, ex-Sheriff Critcher, Treasurer
Greer, revenue and expenses, and
summary of financial and miscellane-
Gus statements.
Tax Collections
Commenting on the fiscal affairs
of the county, the auditor says:
''It cannot be too strongly urged
! that in the future, tax settlements
be made more promptly than in the
past. The legal requirements in this
respect should be met, if possible,
bat in any event, every effort should
be put forth towards expeditions
settlements, since the prompt collec-
ton of taxes is vital to your county
! finances.
Accounts
Sheriff Farthing up to June 80,
last, had collected $226,331.29
I in taxes for the years 1885,
= leaving $67,56668 for those two
years yet uncolIected.
/ The audit shows that ex-Sheriff
C. M. Critcher is due the county
the sum of $5,361.03 for the years
state, but it is understood that the
major portion, if not all, of this
amount is due Mr.. Critcher by the
now defunct Cherokee Lumber Co.
Urges Economy
''It is of equal Importance that the
utmost economy be exercised in each
department or activity. AS shown in
the Fund Revenue and Expense and
Balance Sheet section hereof, the
expenses for the past year exceeded
revenue by over $4,000. This in it
self, not an alarming situation,
since there were surpluses in most
of the funds to take care of the
operating deficits. However, as the
net current surplus as of June 80,
i 1927, was only slightly in excess of
$4,000, it may be seen that a slight
overexpenditura of revenue during
the coming year would change. this
to d deficit"
Although deficits for the fiscal
year ended June so, last, occurred in
all but one fund, balance sheets at
the close of the year show surplus
~, ali b,,t t1xyo fund Ern ulnaral
county fund and the special school
funds. The general county fund
deficit is placed at $9,433.72, and
the school fund deficit at $17,-
1859.
Receipts and Disbursements
Total cash receipts for the six
months period from all sources, is
S310,S31.19, plus balance of
! $34,664.32 on December /, 1926,
making a total of $45,495.51. This
fund is alIocated as follows: General
county, $15,192.O5; road mainten-
ance, $1O4, 4,576.S7; schools, $685.
566.37; Jail construction, $465.83;
jail bond interest, $4,000; road bond
and interest, $45, 5,269,55; school
bond interest, $4,560. SO.
Out of this fund claims have been
paid to the amount Of 1928, 1925,
leaving a surplus on June 80, of
S22, 2,362.26.
Expenses of the Schools
Teachers salaries for the county
| for last year were $76,426.73 and
operating expenses and equipment
! $26, ,S6O.63
Capital Assets and Liabilities
Total capital assets is given as
$7O4, 1915, as follows: Boone
township railroad bond fund, ST.
42O.6s; Jail construction fund, $4,-
222.90; courthouse and grounds,
S14,500; new Jail building, $37,-
951 "a; county home property, $685.
S99.15; roads and bridges, 100000;
school buildings, sites and equipment
$216,SO3.38.
Liabilities: Bonded indebtedness,
S394,000; state loans for school
buildings, $19,250; note, R. S. Dick
son & Co., $4,000; permanent inn
provement fund, $5,2O521. Total,
$52O,455.21. Capital surplus, $1S4,-
342.14. Total fixed liabilities and
capital surplus, $704, 1915.
Bonded Indebtedness
The total bonded Indebtedness Of
the county at the end of the fiscal
year was $476.O0O. Bonds to the
the amount of $505,OO0 had been is
sued previous to May /, 1925, on
which had been paid $4,000.