The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-02-03
COMMISSIONERSANNOUNCE
TAX RATE OF IS CENTS
Figure Is Is Cents Less Than
For Past Four Years; Antici-
pate Receipts of $4,000
TOTAL ONLY APPROXIMATE

Garrett COunty'S tax rate was
fixed at IS cents on each 500 of
assessable property by the Board
of County Commissioners, ac-
cording to the annual levy which
was completed late Monday ev-
ening. The rate is Is cents less
on each $500 of assessabIe prop
erty than has been levied during
the past five years, although change
in the law created some uncertainty
among the taxpayers of the county as
to whether taxes have been raised or
lowered.
With the rate at IS cents, all i'm
portant county officers, including
those connected with the health office,
the county agent and home demon
stration agent, are retained, and in
addition sums Of money were levied
to take care of the school building re-
quirements and the needs of repair
ing a number of the farm-to-market
roads. Adequate sums were also lev
led for various kinds of relief.
While no figures were termed exact,
approximate amounts are given today
which show that money will be eX-
pended as follows:
Public schools, $94 ,966.31 for gen.
eral operating expenses and $4,000
for capital outlay; oiling and screen
ing farm to market roads, $4,000; old
age pensions, $4,000; general public
assistance, $4,000; almshouse and asy-
lum, $4,000; aid to children, $2,020.55;
Children's Aid Society, $4,000; cleo
lions, $4,000; Welfare Board, admin
istrative costs, $500; fire depart
ments, $4,000; debt service, redeeming
bonds, $4,000, and interest, $4,000;
public health work, $4,000; county
agents office, $1,80O; county treasur-
er's office, $2,148.85. Over $4,000 is
set aside in the contingent fund, and
levies for other departments remain
about as usual: court fund, orphans
court, corporations, commissioners Of
flee, court house expenses, etc.
Under the law enacted last winter,
the levy had to be made on or before
February first, the change in the fiscal
year in that law being made from jan
uary 1 to December 81. Previously it
had been July l to June 80, and gave
the farmers an opportunity to pay
their taxes after the crops on their
farms had been harvested.
The new law also changed the dis
count period, making taxes discount
able on or before June l of each year,
and Just at the time when farmers
generally are short of ready money
because of the fact that just at this
time of the year their outlay has to
be made for seed, fertilizer, farm ma
chinery, etc. The new law also cuts
the discount rate from 3 to per cent.
Because of the new law which
makes fve-months' period, from
January to June, when very little tax
money will be collected, the Commits
sioners last year made the rate S1.O0
to tide the finances over this period.
This money, now in the treasury, will
enable the Commissioners to meet all
bills until the 1888 tax bills are pre-
pared and mailed and some of them
paid.
All levy figures above are only APP
proximate. The completed levy in de-
tail will be printed in The Republican
next week.
The assessable basis for the county
was placed at $2O,205, 598, which does
not include some of the intangible per-
sonal property, such as securities and
bank stocks. This figure was estimated
at S572, 1852, but will probably be
increased. The exact figures are lack
ing on account of the incomplete reas-
sessment.