The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-01-06

Shore Commissioners Wrest-
ling with Problem

ling With Problem
Three more Eastern Shore
Counties Caroline, Talbot and
Dorchester-have been placed
by the presidents Of their
boards of commissioners in the
column of Maryland political
units which cannot reduce
their local taxation any further
without assistance from the
Legislature. e
All three cut their 1932-1933
local rates Of taxation below
that of 1931-1932. The Caro-
line rate was dropped from
$3.50 to $1.30 per 500; Tai
bots levy was reduced from
$1.46 to $1.35, and In Dorches-
ter the rate was cut from $1.S0
to $1.70.
I'VE have reached the bot
tom in cutting our county ex-
penses within our jurisdic-
tion," said J. Frank Lane. pres
.ident OF the Caroline board of
commissioners. 1--WE cannot
do any more without help from
the Legislature. We have to
have more school aid and as
sistance for our roads,"
Queen Anne's, as did two
neighboring Eastern Shore
countiesKent and Cecil-re-
duced its local levy for the cur
rent year. The 1931-1932 rate
in Queen Anne's was $3.50 and
was lowered to $1.37 for this
fiscal year. The rate in Cecil
was reduced from $1.40 to
$1.SO, and in Kent from $1.67
to STAT.
Members of the county
boards Of all three, state they
expect to make further cuts
for the next fiscal year and are
depending on the Legislature
to allot them some Of the gas
oline tax to maintain their
roads and to make larger con-
tributions to the support OF
their school systems.
Eve expect to get bills thru
the Legislature to get the rate
in Queen Anne's county below
81. Ninety cents Is the figure
set, said Mr.. Knots.
Mr.. Knots said tax collec-
lions for this year were rum
ming far behind, but ''the coun-
ty can't own all the land, and
there's no use trying to sell it,
because theses no one to buy.
The county's taxable basis,
which was $17,25S,533 for
1931-1932, has fallen off APP
proximately $1,00O,0OO, he
said. On the 1931-1932 base
it was the eighteenth wealth
lest county in the State.
Queen Anne's population is
approximately 1880 and its
area about S76 square miles.
Speaking for Cecil county,
Walter G. Miller, a member Of
the Board Of Commissioners,
said there is no question but
we. will cut our rate 20 cents or
more for next year to bring it
down to about $780,"
He said that Cecil countians,
too, were depending on receiv-
ing money for road mainten-
ance from the gasoline tax
funds and on getting more aid
from the State for schools. He
said he favored having the
road maintenance funds from
the gasoline tax placed under
the supervision of the County
Commissioners.
The reduction already made
IN the Cecil county rate, ac-
cording to Mr.. Miller, was &C
complished by cutting general
Expenses and no salaries were
affected.
There has been no appreci-
able drop In the taxable basis
ofsthe county, which was set at
$43, 258,939 for 1931-19S2 and
placed Cecil in tenth place in
wealth among the counties.
At the $1.S0 rate the county
collected $467 ,484 in revenue
and spent $219.S1O for schools.
The State gave $65,29S for its
schools. Roads cost $4,000;
debt service, $48,50O, and other
county activities cost Sill, STA.
CeeiI county has approximate