The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1932-04-01
MANAGER PLAN
FOR COUNTIES
CONTINUED from page one)

trial of this system to the taxpay
ers of Roosevelt county as a pos
sible avenue for the reduction o
taxes.
"The writer. from first-hand ex
perience knows and is free to ad
NIT, that the present system o
handling county business is moi
all that could be wished for and
that under our present laws in
Montana there is a considerable a
mount of duplication of work in
the various offices that could and
should be eliminated, which item
in itself alone would greatly aid
in the reduction of taxes. 1t is es-
timated that in a county of this
class the savings on this item a.
lone would amount to from $4,000
to $4,000 a year, with proportion
ate savings on many other items,
which under the present system,
no matter how well conducted, can
not be entirely eliminated. Added
efficiency would be secured through
the contradictions of offices under
the direct management of one per-
son, and it is Il belief that such
a system would prove a near of
materially reducing the taxes of
our much over-taxed county.
1--WE herewith submit a few of
the salient points of the Montana
laws relating to the administra-
ton of such a form of government
for the benefit of the people of
Roosevelt county with the hope
that the merits of the proposition
may be discussed and considered
and that enough interest may be
awakened to bring it to a vote at
the coming primary election to be
held in July. The Tribune will be
glad to hear from interested tax
payers relative to the matter and
if enough interest is manifested the
necessary steps can then be made
toward bringing it to a vote of the
people.
"Under the county manager plan,
as provided in the Montana law,
four offices would be combined in
to one, the Clerk and Recorder,
Assessor, Treasurer and Surveyor.
The board of county commission
ers would appoint the manager and
fix his salary, as well as the sal
of the deputies and clerks
1.-THE manager is held directly
responsible to the commissioners
for the administration of all off
He is required to make a
monthly report to the board con-
cerning the finances and general
of the county. He employs
LII clerks and deputies for all Of
ices, including those of Superin-
.endent of Schools, Sheriff and
Clerk of Court. He may engage or
such clerks from office
whenever in his opinion efficiency
n office demands.
"The manager shall not be APP
for any definite tenure,
nut shall be removable at the
~leasure of the county board. He
5 appointed with regard to merit
My, and need not be a resident
f the county. +,
''The administrative activities of :
he manager, as specified under :
he new law, provides that he shall :
ave charge of the following &C
% assessment of property /,
nd of preparation of the tax roll; =
p collection of taxes, license fees
nd other revenues of the county;
3 custody and accounting of all
ublic funds; (4) purchase of all
lpplies for the county; (5) care
{ county buildings; CO. care and
of county's personal prop
rty; (7) recording of deeds, mort
ages and other instruments; (S)
instruction and maintenance of
ounty roads and bridges; ~ en-
Ioyment of prisoners; (10) care
: poor; C11) public health and
oeration of county hospital; (12) !
ny matters of business in connect
with administration Of schools |
hich shall be delegated to him by
with approval of the county
bard.
'The manager may appoint a
BARD Of representative citizens to
It in the capacity of an advisory
,ard, who shall serve without
improvisation and consult and adj
Sc with the officer in charge for
hich they are appointed.
"The manager is required to give
md for $4,000 to assure the
accounting for all funds and
oper administration OF his Of (
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