The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-01-20
REPORT OF TAX PAYERS
COMMITTEE
Largely Attended Meeting
Hears Recommendations
That Would Cut Tax
Fifty-four Cents ..--.

The meeting held in the
Court House, at ElktOn, on
Monday evening, to hear the
report and recommendations of
the committee appointed by the
Taxpayers League of Cecil
County to make a thorough
survey Of the tax situation in
our county, with view of ar
irving at some means whereby
savings could be affected, was
attended by taxpayers from all
over the county, who are deep
iy interested in the subject, the
court room being crowded to
overflowing..
The meeting was presided
over by Harold E. Coburn,
chairman Of the committee,
who presented the lengthy re-
port, which gave evidence of a
vast amount of research, and
showed the committee had ex-
pended much time and thought
on the task that had been as
signed them.
The different departments of
public business of our county
were gone into in detail, care
fully analysed and recon-
mendations suggested, which,
could they be put in operation,
it is estimated would bring
about saving in expenditures
for the conduct of our county
business that would make it
possible to cut the present local
tax rate in Cecil county of $1.30
on the hundred dollars, to sew
enty-six (76) cents on the 500.
Among the drastic recon-
mendations made by the COM
mittee and approved by vote of
the meeting were that the
roads and bridges of the county
be placed, temporarily, under
control of the State Roads
Commission, and the salaries
of the three County Commits
sioners be cut from $4,000 an
nually each, to $500 each; that
the office of assistant county
treasurer be made appointive
instead of elective and that
total cost of salaries for run
ming the County Treasurer's
office be placed at $4,000, a saw
ing of $1,000 annually in this
Office.
The public school system
came in for much criticism and
the recommendation was that
salaries of teachers be cut 1917
eliminate Domestic Science and
Manual Training courses in
High Schools, dispense with
services of Supervisors of Ele-
mentary Schools, as well as
Attendance Officer and cut
salary of Superintendent OF
Schools from present figure of
S354O to $4,000, plus $500 for
travelling expenses.
1t was estimated the saving
made by these changes would
make it possible to cut the
school tax item to arproxi-
mately 40 cents, in place of the
"a cent tax levied at present.
The recommendation to abol-
ish the office of Supervisor of
Assessments, with it's salary of
$500 per annum was approx
ed, as was that to dispense with
Clerk to Supervisor who re-
ceives $50 per month.
Repeal Of Act establishing
office of County Agent at salary
of $500 was approved.
1t was recommended that
the custom of the various
county boards employing coun-
sci for legal advice be abolish
ed and the States Attorney act
in this capacity.
Drastic cuts were recon-
mended in the Sheriff's office.
The matter of Elections, which
showed extravagant eXpendi-
ture for rental of buildings and
payment of the various election
officials was thoroughly ex-
posed.
The committee recommend
ed that the election booths
throughout county be set up
in public school buildings,
thereby affecting a saving OF
extravaganza expenditures for
n 1c,