The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-02-08

The 1910 Budget is Jne nrst one
which operates for full year under
Chapter 286 of the 1889 laws as en-
acted on May II, 1889. This law places
the payment of orders payable on a
cash basis in that the Treasurer re-
ceives all orders issued and is required
to draw checks in payment of such
orders. Formerly the Treasurer did not
know when or to whom orders were
issued.
In order to comply with the require
ments of this law, all probable major
income items, or appropriation ac-
counts have been estimated when the
exact figures were not known in adj
vance. In former years, miscellane-
Gus revenues were either credited to
the related appropriation accounts or
to the Contingent Fund, since they
were not estimated in the original
budgets.
Attention is called to the same law,
referred to above, for the restriction
on borrowing money in anticipation of
the collection of taxes, in order to meet
the current expenses and installment
payments on the definite appropria-
tions, to $4,000 during January or
February, to be repaid on or before
June 1st. Then there is no further pro-
vision to borrow money for current
running expenses in anticipation OF
tax collections until October 81. These
restrictions may result in quite a fl
nancial problem if the taxes are not
paid promptly. An informative col
lection campaign to obtain the cooper
alton of the taxpayers in paying their
taxes promptly, may assist greatly in
this matter. The taxpayers would
either gain a discount or minimize
their interest charges by early pay
ment of taxes, while the county would
be able to meet it's School and We'll
fare Budget installments and other
current expenses on time and save in
terest charges that would otherwise
be incurred on any amounts borrowed
after October 81 on the current years
unpaid taxes.
The estimated total general revenue
of $340,231.91 for 1910 shows an in
crease of $78, 7O3.39 over the actual
collections of 1851 ,52852 for all tax
levies and for miscellaneous revenue
realized during 1889. This difference
is due to uncollected taxes, reduction
in taxable basis and increase in tax
rate for 1910. The non-general reve-
nue. items for 1889 consist of money
borrowed-$66, 572.01-and dog taxes
of $290.22. These items are not esti-
mated for 1910, since they do not af-
feet the general revenue Of the county.
1t will be noted that the miscellane-
Gus revenue of $45,572.44 received
during 1889 had not been estimated IN
the Budget. The principal items in
this total are:
Share of State revenue for Debt
Service, Aid to Needy, Care for Indi-
gent Sick, etc. $50, 976.45
Collections on accounts of
Late Treasurer A. L. Lee. 6,598.26
Interest collected on delin-
quent taxes r......... 5,084.17
The comparison of the 1910 Levy
with the 1889 Levy shows that part OF
the increase in rate for 1910 was due
to reduction of approximately $117,-
600 in the basis of assessment, while
certain appropriation needs of the
county increased as subsequently, ex.
planned.
The increases and decreases in the
1910 appropriations as compared with
the 1899 expenditures are as follows:
Education: Increase SIS, 1884.
This increase is principally due tt
the Board of Education's share of the
tax levy for the support of schools
being increased from At cents to 81
cents per 500 of property assessa.
BILE at the full county tax rate and fol
Capital Outlay items provided by law
Public Welfare: Increase $1O,528.63.
There are increases and decreases
IN various accounts as shown by &
study of the statements. However, the
net increase is reflected in "Other Pub
lie Welfare" principally in "Alms
houses and Asylums, Hospitals" anC
other care for paupers, training
schools and fire departments.
While the total Public Welfare Bud
get of $97,012.04 seems large, atten
ton is directed to the additional
amounts being spent in the county by
the State and Federal Governments
for welfare and somewhat related
conservation and road work, which arr
not reflected in these statements.
General Highways: Decrease
$35 ,508.97.
This decrease is due to the fact thu
1889 expenditures included approx
mately $4,000 for the purchase o.
road equipment and machinery, which
was homecoming item.