Evening star., 1946-10-27

administration not only is DoTToW-
ing $2,0O0,000 to meet maturing
bonds and notes, but is borrowing
another 100000 for new projects.
ITO pay the total Of bonds, notes
and interest falling due this year"
the committee said, would take So
TO 80 cents out of every tax dollar.
Since the county cannot be run
on the remaining 40 cents, the ma
chine now In power merely borroWs
again and steadfastly refuses to
eliminate the waste which causes
high costs to the taxpayer. In one
day, the outstanding county debt
was increased more than % per
cent"
Annual Deficit Seen.
In addition, according to the COM
mittee, a deficit Of approximately
$25o; 900 is. piled up annually for
police road repairs, engineering,
courthouse salaries and other ex-
penses. At the end of the year,
the committee asserted, emergency
notes and bonds are issued to cover
these, deficits.
Turning to the budget, the COM
mittee accused the county admin
istration Of Juggling the figures to
make the budget appear balanced
in this year of approaching elec-
| tions."
AS an example, the committee
pointed to the reduction from $75,-
600 to $4,000 in the appropriation
for school repairs and maintenance.
Bonds were then issued for 1885,
600 for school alterations, the COM
mittee said. much of which is
simply repairs and maintenance IN
disguise"
Liquor Profits Cited.
The committee also claimed liquor
profits totaling $250,000 were writ
ten into the budget as income and
$250, 900 borrowed on working capi-
tai for the liquor dispensaries.
"The police appropriation was cut
without any corresponding cut in
the services of the police force it
SELF" the committee asserted, re
sulting in a deficit that will have
to be made up by last-minute bor-
rowing.
These tricks represent outright
deception and end in more deficit
financing. leading to more costly
debt charges for the taxpayer to
carry"
In his statement, Mr.. Noyes said
the disposition of Liquor Board
profits Is similar to the procedure
in any large corporation.
He said the $3.50, 600 advanced to
the dispensary system as working
capital represents the goods on hand
of type that is Immediately SAL
able and is in every sense of the
word working capital" He added
the $780, 900 in liquor profits is only
part Of the net dependable" in
come received from the Liquor
Board for the current year.
Commissioners Defended.
Mr.. Noyes also contended the
county commissioners were justified
in reducing the road maintenance
fund and police operating costs. He
said this action was taken because
Of the new assessments placed on
the tax books during the current
fiscal year. The revenue from these
new assessments was not included
in the total budget appropriation,
he explained.
From July l through October
30," Mr.. Noyes declared, "$3 SOC, 900
worth of new construction has been
placed on the tax rolls which will
yield an additional $50 900 in income
per year.
"a total of $4,000, 900 worth Of
additional new building permits
have been taken out. Nearly all OF
this property will get on the tax
books by April and will yield an
additional $4,000 in annual reve-
nue. from the basic tax rate (of
$780,"
He said when the county COM
miSsioners increased the bonded
Indebtedness of the county last Sep
tember, they raised the total in
debtednesS to TIT per cent of the
assessed value of the county.
Charter Proposal Recalled.
He pointed out the proposed char
ter defeated two years ago carried
a bond limit of 7 per cent, while the
Brookings Institution report on the
county government issued in 1941
listed 10 per cent as a safe limit.
I'VE see no reason for increasing
the county tax rate" Mr.. Noyes as
serted, cor saddling the present
generation Of taxpayers with pay
ing off undue amounts Of county
bonds and so, increase the tax rate,
because a combination of pressure
groups want to take over the gov
ernment of the county"