Milford chronicle., 1932-01-08

of 1929. In order to ascertain the
particular offices causing this in
crease of expenditures, it will be
necessary to examine the cost of the
various offices of this subdivision.
The expenditures of the office OF
sheriff in New Castle county display
two trends within the time under
consideration. The first is from
1922 to 1925 and the second from
1925 to 1880. The average of the first
period is $11, ,203 an dthe rate of in
crease $1G6, but for the second pc
riod the average is $1S,424 and the
/ rate of increase $2154. The level OF
the last period is almost so per cent
greater than the first, and the rate
! of increase is very much greater.
The expenditures for the sheriff
of Kent county show in general a
= tendency to increase, the average
expenditure being $350S an dthe rate
of increase $53. In Sussex county
there are two distinct trends of ex-
penditures, one of them from 1922
to 1926, in which the average was
$4191 and the average decrease $193.
The second period from 1920 to 1880,
the average expense was $3991 and
the average rate of increase 1922.
Tax Assessments
The assessment of taxes in all of
the three counties has shown no de-
cided change of trend in cost. In
New Castle county the expenditures
have averaged $22,153 and increased
at the rate of only $17 per year. The
expenditures of the board of assess
ment of Kent county have averaged
$673S and decreased at the rate of
$57 per year, while those of Sussex
county have cost $5324 and increased
at the rate of SIS. The rates of
change and the amounts of change
i'm each of the counties have been
so small that they are not a signifi-
cant factor in the changes of costs
of county governments.
New Castle county was alone in
contributing to the treatment of the
INDECENT poor i'm hospitals before
1926. Until 1915 New Castle county
made no appropriation over $1,000
for that purpose. In 1915 the ap-
preparation was raised to $1,500 and
remained at that figure until 1921.
In 1922 it appropriated $32,083; in
1928 it appropriated $500 to hos
pitfalls and S1,971 TO Hope Farm, and
from 1924 to 1927 almost $4,000 to
hospitals. From 1928 to 1880 the au-
preparation has been on the basis of
$4,000 year, but not all of that
amount was used in 1929.
Kent county made no appropTia-
ton for this purpose until 1926
when $55SS was spent The appro-
priation in 1880 was $6,84O. Sussex
county began contributing to the
hospitals for the care of the INDECENT
poor in 1926 $2,7SS, which has now
grow nto $6,175.
Adult Correction
In New Castle and Kent counties
the tendency is upward in the cost
for adult correction at a rather uni
form rate. In New Castle county
the average expenditure was $751;
594 and the rate of increase $4S86.
In Kent county the average eXpendi-
ture was $4,000 an dthe rate of in
crease 1905. Sussex county expendi-
lures from 1922 to 1927 increased,
but not nearly so rapidly as those
from 1927 to 1880. The average eX-
penditure for the first period was
$S757 an dthe rate of increase $814,
but for the latter period the expen-
diture was $16,069 a year and the
rate of increase $3622.
Each of the three counties has |
spent, except for a few years, an in
creasing amount each year for jul
venile correction. In New Castle |
county from 1922 to 1925 the average !
expenditure was S26,710 and the rate
Of increase was only $252, but be-
ginning with 1925 the rate of in
crease has been very rapid. The
average expenditure from 1925 to
1880 was $40,49O an dthe rate of in
crease $6252. In Kent county the
first three years show a decline in
he amount spent for this purpose,
he average being $16S9 and the rate
If decline $3.50 a year; but begin
ling with 1924 the rate of increase
las been rapid, $S01 year, and the
evel more than twice what the first
hree years show, $3462 as against
;1GS9.
The rapid increase in the expendi-
ures of Sussex county did not begin
until 1928. From 1922 to 1928 the
averaged $46S5 a year
md the rate of increase was $482.
,ut the last three years show rapid
Increase, the average expenditure
,eing SS624 and the rate of increase
1928.
The trend of the receitps of the
ounties from the tax on general
property is influenced by the tax
ates set by the levy courts and by
he trend of assessments. New Castle
ounty has maintained it's tax rate
t 80 cents per $10O assessed valua-
ion through the period covered by
his study but the straight line trend
t assessed valuation has increased
/, ,745, 900 per year. At 80 cents per
100 this brings into the county al
lost $4,000 increase each year. The !
ther counties have varied their tax {
ates, but their increase of assessed
aluations has been less. The trend
I the increase per annum has been
My $4,000, and that of Sussex
)09, 900 If their tax rates had been
} cents per $1O0 of assessed value, I
le increased tax yield would have a
cen only $500 for Kent county and
727 for Sussex county. Considering c
le assessed valuations of the coun- r
es in 1922. New Castle county has
creased in assessed valuations h
,lative to size of assessments twice 4
.eoc+ a hos KaDt county hIlt only IL -