The Republican., 1938-04-21
RELIEF CRISIS DEVELOPS
WITH DECREASE IN FUNDS
Garrett County Gets Check For
S1,92S For Direct Relief During
Next Eleven Months
GORDY'S LETTER PRINTED

A crisis in Garrett county's well
fare program has developed with the
announcement of William S. Gordy,
Jr., State Comptroller, that this coun-
ty would receive only S1,928.O0 for di-
rect relief during the next eleven
months.
Only 100000 is available through
out the entire state during that period,
less than the amount spent by the
state in March. His statement was
based on the failure of special relief
taxes to produce revenue anticipated
by the last legislature. Garrett coun-
tvs direct relief funds are handled
through the office of the County Com
missioners.
The Commissioners announced this
week that they had received a check
from the Comptroller's Office for ST.
928.00, representing the county's
share of the General Public Assistance
funds under the special law passed
last May. At the present rate of distri-
button this amount will not last long,
it was stated During March S1,862.33
was expended on direct relief.
The Commissioners received the fol-
lowing letter from the Comptroller
under date of April 18th:
Board of County Commissioners of
Garrett County, Oakland, Md.
Gentlemen:-
We have been receiving during the
past several months many letters from
the various counties appealing for a
distribution of General Public Assist
ance Funds due to their pressing
needs, and up until the present time
we were unable, due to the uncollected
State income tax, to determine the
probable results of the total tax col
lections for the State Fund for Aid to
the Needy.
AS liberal an estimate as we feel
able to make is that for the fiscal
year ending September 80, 1888, total
receipts will be approximately $3,994,-
26700, and the definitely fixed or al
located amounts, as enumerated in the
law, plus administration costs, are ap-
proXimately $4,050, 100000, deficit for
the year of $4,000.
For the fiscal year ending Septem-
Der 80, 1889, due to the loss of the re-
registration fees, which will not be re-
peated in that year, our estimates of
receipts are S3,49O,OO00O, and the
definitely dedicated ALLEGATIONS are
$4,050, 100000, deficit of S560,000.00,
making a total deficit in income of
$685. 100000 for the two years.
Beginning October l, 1887, there
was brought over a balance to the
credit of this account 81 $40 ,240.00,
from which we disbursed to Baltimore
City and the various counties in No
vember, 1887, for General Public As
sistance 100000. leaving a balance
of $1,040, ,240.00, less an amount to be
reserved, as per ALLEGATIONS cited in
the law for 1938-1939, of $685. 100000,
which leaves S424 ,24000, which should
be available when revenues are col
lected for General Public Assistance
for the year 1889.
We are however advised by the
Board of State Aid and Charities that
for the first three quarters of 1888
the full appropriation for old age
pensions and aid to dependent children
will not be used, and there will probab-
ly revert 5000, 100000 which can be ap-
piled to General Public Assistance,
but that for the year 1889 it is eX-
pected that they will use the entire
ALLEGATION for those purposes.
Therefore, to relieve the present dis
tressed condition of the city and coun-
ties for General Public Assistance
funds we are distributing to Balti-
more City and the counties S200,000.00
for which checks will be mailed in the
next few days.
The situation to be faced in dis
tributing the 1924, 4,24000 estimated to
be available for the fiscal year 1889
is that the actual cash will noe be
available for this purpose until the
1899 income taxes are collected, which
are payable March Is, 1889. Thus, it
will be seen that had it not been for
the balance brought forward from the
old Aid for the Needy Funds prior to
the present fiscal year there would
have been no General Public Assist
ance funds available. Of course it is
to be regretted that the proceeds from
the laws passed by the last Legisla-
ture were disappointing in their re-
suits, producing approximately ST.
000000.00 less for the two years than
the Legislature estimated.
Very truly yours,
VIM. S. GORDY, JR.,
Comptroller.
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