The Nespelem tribune. [volume] (Nespelem, Wash.) 1934-1936, 1935-02-20
Booklet Discusses
County Finances
University Professor Discusses
Vital Problems In Recent
Publication

SEATTLE-Howc can the financial
crisis in many counties of Washing
ton this year be faced? Under the
title County Finances in the State
of Washington" the matter Of I'M
employment relief in this state and
the effect this burden has had on
county government is thoroughly
dealt with in booklet by Profess
sor Joseph p. Harris of the depart
ment of Political Science, Univer-
sity of Washington, just off the
press. The study by Professor Har-
ris was undertaken in July, 1888, at
the requet OF the Washington En-
Urgency Relief Administration.
Separate charts have been pre-
pared for each county in the state,
showing its unemployment relief
costs, its welfare expenditures, as
sessed valuation, bonded and war
rant debt, tax levy, effect of the 40
mill tax limit, tax collections and
trend of assessment. Individual
analyses of the financial status Of
twenty one counties which were
visited were prepared, interpreting
the charts, tables and other data.
County Problems
"It is apparent that the chief
problem of county finances is that
of financing public welfare activi-
ties" Professor Harris states. Even
if the amount Of unemployment re-
turns soon to normal, the state, for
some years to come, will neverthe
less have to bear a larger share of
the relief cost than it has in the
past.
''Due to the fact that workers who
became unemployed will not have
reserves to fall back upon until
after period Of prosperity, the
state will hardly be able to withdraw
from the relief as long as it con-
tinues to be pressing, and that pri-
vate charities, which have been UNI
able to take care of the enormously
increased relief load, will find 1t
more difficult to secure contribu-
lions, since the public has come to
look to the government for the fin
ancing of relief"
Poor Tax Collections
Professor Harris states that 1t is
quite apparent that the financial
difficulties of local units of govern
ment have been caused largely by
poor tax collections. The low rate
of collection is usually attributed to
the depression, but comparative in
formation upon tax collection in
various states seems to indicate that
the tax laws and methods of col
lection are equally if not more i'm
portant in times Of depression. He
advocates stricter collection laws,
reduced tax levies, improvement of
assessment, improved methods for
tax collection and improvement of
the organization and administrator
of local government.
Professor Harris has laid down a
ten-fold plan for the improvement
of county government. This plan
includes a modern budget law, pro-
viding effective and definite fin
| ancial control; state laws providing
optional forms of county govern
ment; laws permitting city and
county consolidation, and consolida-
ton of two or more counties; home
rule for counties; a responsible and
unified weir are administration;
state welfare department. to super
wise the counties; state aid in the
support of public charities; a mod
ern assessment system; improved
tax collection methods, through
e,fS int IF 1oxr, 4
follow-up of the delinquent tax
payers; a careful consideration of
the desirability of transferring such
functions as state highway main
tenance and construction to the
state.
This pamphlet can be obtained
from Publications Editor, Univer-
sity Of washington.