Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-12-13
Work for the Taxpayers Association

Work tor the taxpayers ASSOCIATION
Some of the officers of the Sheridan county tax
payers association carried another one OF their plat
forms to fruitless conclusion last week when they ap-
peared before the county commissioners and asked
that the classification of the county be lowered. II
was. we understand, the carrying out of a prediction
promise made by some of those same officers who
were Republican candidates, and In which some OF
them have already refused to concur.
In the first place. had a fair and careful inyestiga-
tion been made before appearing before the commits
sioners. the officers would have found that the assess
ed valuation of the county was such that 1t was not
possible to even consider making any change, ana
would not have been subjected to the embarrassment
of supporting a futile proposal, Although TINS assess
ed valuation was slightly below the required amount
last summer assessments made since by the county
assessor has brought this to a total exceeding the re-
ouired amount-and let it be known that Assessor
rbristansen ~ perfectly willing to make an affidavit
certifying to this fact.
The unreasonable part of lowering the countys
classification is not found alone however In the fact
that the required valuation has been exceeded, n1 ra
Their in the meager benefits accruelng 10 taxpayefF-
should the change be effected. Proponents OF lhe
change admit that the total saving would be sl,4oo.
This would, at best, amount to about 20 cents per HS-
payer.
All that would be done would reduce the salaries
or q lew I'll Ii ClFtlCd 0AAisA1i2-
only be contributing to lowered efficiency, but be In
wiling practices on the part OF officials to get that
cut back" And how easy it could be done.
Taxpayers of Sheridan county are a pretty lair
lot. They do quite a little thinking for themselves
and most of them know that they could hardly ask
for greater economy In operation Of the county's Of
fices than has been shown through the past two or
three years. For instance, a sheriff who by law Is
allowed both a deputy and undersheriff has for the
-. - a.n~. ~ot+or aJouu uithout an uu6nrSharff
An assessor has operated his office with only one
clerk where there had been two and three before him.
A county superintendent and a county attorney have
employed clerks instead OF deputies which In eth
er case they could have done legally. A county treas
urer has taken on double the responsibilities on &C
count OF the activities OF the Federal government and
other loaning agencies, together with changes brought
on by state legislation, but continued to operate on
the same budget used when half the duties were re-
CURED of that office. A clerk Of court has run bis
office without the assistance of a deputy which the
law permits. County commissioners have held down
expenses to a point which for the first time In the
countys history warranted commendatory criticism
by the state examiners office.
It seems a bit unappreciative, in the face OF these
facts. for any group to appeal to commissioners to low
er the classification Of the county to effect a saving OF
10 to 20 cents per taxpayer-and to even question the
honesty OF the Assessor who was ready to certify as
to the county's existing valuation.
The Taxpayers Association can we'll fill a most
helpful mission. This paper believes there should be
such a group, and with a membership representative
OF the interests Of a majority of taxpayers in the
county. We believe however, that Its efforts might
better be directed towards problems OF much greater
consequence than lowering the countys classification
"a movement which would provide most meagre bene-
fits and most likely would be only temporary.
There are some real problems confronting taxpay-
ers now which might well occupy the attention OF any
taxpayers group. Among them are county consohda-
ton; what are its merits, and what is against IT?
Let the Taxpayers association make a careful survey
of 1t and provide arguments for the forming OF intel
ligent opinions. Then there Is the matter of payment
OF ever mounting delinquent taxes. What is the best
solution OF that problem, for which we know already
heavily burdened taxpayers must find some relief?
And, the property that has been acquired by the coun-
ty on tax sales, and from which the county is deriving
no revenue. Let the Taxpayers association find a way
to handle this property and replace 1t on the tax rolls
or produce revenue and 1t would have performed q
service which would eclipse the benefits gained from
lowering classification MANIFOLD.
CONSCIENTIOUS effort is always cotnmendable, but 1t
is much better to have it applied where real good
may come, bringing about constructive results in
stead of continually travelling on "detours.'
Are Election Officials DISHONESTY
A contest doomed on the horizon this week as