The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-11-29
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE a CHANGE, OR GO UNDER

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A CHANGE, OR GO UNDER
No person who properly constituted likes to discuss
unpleasant things about his neghbors and others with
whom he must be associated from time to time in various
ways But there always time, there last straw,
what have you when becomes necessary to part
pany with long neighbor or longtime friend
the kind of government that is being dealt out to them at
the courthouse We not getting square DEAL
fair DEAL and than deal Our voice is disregard
ed when we go to the polls and express overwhelming
opinion. Our taxes raised without being consulted
money wasted thrown here and there filling the pQck
cts in cases. of people who could
much money neither Dare County any other place One
man paying himself $40 day. for what amounts to prob
ably days work month Clerk to the County Board
Clearly the Board of Commissioners are not running
the county They draw pay for it. but give it almost of
their time They run into town for few hours once
month pension of 5000 year paid to the Chairman of
rather let os n @
whole thing The Clerk to the Board who draws his
in another office wherein someone else gets $275O do
his work while he blows off steam and mumbes politics
around corners, day in and day out
The Board has contracted with New Jersey firm to
send college boys into Dare County which has now been
going on for son @ to value the property Of the people
of people who get out before daylight go fishing while
office holders get to their offices at nine o'clock later
and some do not go at all Taxes continue to be raised
money being wasted and this year there big jump
again. despite all the Is and half millions of property
value in the county.
In nine years your County Commissioners have in
creased the county budget to way quarter
Of million dollars year to run the county, and an increase
of $3521 Since 1949 they have than doubled the
expense to the taxpayers and end appears in sight This
year. just about everybody in the courthouse helped them
selves to liberal salary raises and the people
suited notice given to those who must dig up the
to pay these people for their short hours and five
day weeks
During the past several years. they have been nipping
along lightly by increasing the budget about
year. which wasn't noticed too much valuations grew
But this year they went to town. and despite all the 18 and
half million valuation they raised taxes like the devil and
passed to the taxpayers increase of more than ST.
10000.
It. is somewhat amazing to read the list of things for
which the Commissioners throw money around Principal
county officers get 100 year. plus help to do their work
and liberal funds for postage and s1 9 Flor or TIM
help to do his work. and 81 400 for travel All the county
officers get their bond premiums paid and funds set aside
lice station up Mays Head and $4,000 pay the
cost Of building Jail at Buxton which by the way was
voted down by the people at the time the Manteo Jail
was voted down. but which was built at waste of money
and also additional taxes levied and the job unfn
ished
than Is per cent in taxes has been made and while the boys
enjoy bigger salaries than they could get anywhere else in
in cuts made in phases of public welfare and
poor showing made of giving money to the schools
There is ripe for the taxpayers to come
together and to organize sort of league to fight this
highhanded business There of good peo
pie in the courthouse and who would do their job well with
board see that available But it is
sary sweep all to get better government then
clean sweep should be made Those who sit quietly by
aid and abet under often guilty danger
GUS the real culprt
We need interest in public affairs, among people of
ability get out and for office to get this county back
its feet and its affairs restored to the people, Our Board
of Commissioners haven't had audit made in years
while their stooges at the courthouse tell grand ies they
which requires it. and have ignored publishing county audit
the law says during the past eight nine years Some
officials do not wish information to get out of the court
house They think they the county, and thew think the
people simple suckers. We sometimes wonder if their
view is correct