The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1937-04-22
COMMISSIONERS KEEP THE
TAX RATE AT One DOLLAR
Figure Same as Past Three Years
New Law COmpels Them To
Levy For Half Year Only
EXPECT INCOME OF $113,5OO

Garrett county's tax rate was placed
at S1.O0 on each 500 of assessable
property by the County Commission
ers, according to the annual levy COM
pleted late Tuesday night. The rate
remains exactly the same as the coun-
ty rate for the past three years, and
retains all important county officers
including those connected with the
health office, the county agent and
home demonstration agent.
The Commissioners were compelled,
however, to levy for one-half year
only, by reason of new law passed
in the legislature changing the fiscal
year of the county. Instead of July /
to June 80, the fiscal year will be from
January 1 to December 81. The law
expressly stipulated that the Commits
sioners would levy for the half-year at
this time, and then make an additional
levy before the first of February, to
care for county expenses up until the
following January. The new law intro
duced by Sen. Friend also changed the
discount period, making taxes dis
countable on or before June /, of each
year, and cut the discount rate from
8 to percent.
In view of the new law, and in view
of the five-month period from January
1888 to June, when it was stated by
the Commissioners there would be
very little tax money collected, it was
necessary to levy the $1.00 in order
to create surplus to take care of the
running expenses during this period.
The State tax rate this year, fixed
by the General Assembly, is 22A cents
per 500 assessable basis, which is
one-fourth of a cent higher than last
year.
The assessable basis for the county
is $17,774,460, a decrease Of approx
mately 100000 over last year.
The total appropriations amount to
$113,522.76.
Public schools of the county will re-
ceive Sal, 76998 for six months rum
ming expenses, $340.64 for agriculture
teachers salary adjustment, and
$1,000 for payment on Red House
school. The Board of Education re-
quested $95,S8O for the full year,
$81 Asa for running expenses and $14,-
426 for debt service. The balance of
the money necessary for the operation
and maintenance of the school system
of the county is furnished by the State.
The law requires levy of At cents
per $500 for schools.
Other appropriations include aid to
dependent children, $3.50; Children's
Aid, $1,150; general public assistance,
$4,000; old age pensions, $4,000; re-
assessment, $4,000; Oakland Fire De-
partment, $500; Kitzmiller, Grants
vile and Friendsville departments,
5000 each; Library, $75; Forest Fire,
$3.50; debt service, lateral road bonds
and interest, $4,000; almshouse and
asylum, $444,500.
The complete levy in detail will be
printed in The Republican next week.
Friend Asks Increase
Senator Clifford Friend, before the
County Commissioners on Tuesday,
urged the county officials to raise the
county tax rate 80 to 40 cents, in order
to construct an addition to the Kitzmil-
Ter school.
A delegation from Kitzmiller was
before the board in regard to the build
ing and asked for a 5-room addition.
The Commissioners agreed that the
next money spent for capital outlay
would go to the Kitzmiller school.
Senator Friend then suggested that
the Commissioners pass resolution to
that effect and urged the 30-cent di-
rect increase in the rate to pay for
such an addition. He said he was OPP
posed to bond issue for construction
OF school buildings in the county. The
commissioners stated a bond issue
could be paid back from year to year
with little or no additional burden on
the people.
D. j. Ashby, Jr., was named by the
county Commissioners to fill out the
balance of the term as treasurer of
the county, ending April, 1889. Mr..
Ashby has served in that capacity his
Tour years to which he was elected, and
since that time when Walter Imam,
duly elected in 1884, failed to qualify.
In st. Marks Lutheran church, Rev.