The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-10-10
AUDITORS REPORT SHOWS
DARE'S UNCOLLECTED TAXES
NOW ABOVE 100000 MARK
Dismal Report For Year Ending June Both. Re-
veaIs Deficit Still High With County Funds
Overspen+ Nearly $4,000; Auditor Warns
Against Loose Methods and Insists on CurtaiI-
ing Non-Essen+ial Spending to Get Things
Strengthened Out

The last dismal chapters of the
disgraceful Duvall-Daniels dynasty
in Dare County's government are
being written, and this week on
the recommendation of the Tax
Supervisor that the job was 979o
completed, it was ordered to pay
Associated Surveys. a New Jersey
outfit, a balance of $2,545.1O re-
naming due for the $4,000 tax
appraisal job which took property
owners of Dare County for a cost
ly ride this year.
At the same meeting Tuesday,
the Board of Commissioners got
an audit report made in three
months time, after a lot of prod
ding, for the year ending June 80,
1858. This report showed Dare
County with over 100 thousand
dollars in uncollected taxes, and
total deficit in Dare County funds
of nearly $48,000, an increase over
the period ending a year previous
ly.
The auditor made some sharp
comments about the methods of
handling funds in various depart
ments, indicating the great need
for establishment of a modern ac-
counting system.
The report showed that funds in
excess of its pro rata share of tax
collections had been transferred to
the Manteo School district; that
county funds had been used to pay
in an excess of the amount due for
disqualification of county employees
and same had not been collected
from the employees; that FUNDS col
lected separately for the Roanoke
Island Fire District, the Dare
Beaches Sanitary District, the
Kitty Hawk School District, and
the Manteo School District had
not properly been handled sepa-
rately or paid in pro rata as col
lected. This situation affected the
Tourist bureau which is due so
per cent of the county's ABC
Funds.
The auditors comment on this
situation is as follows: at viii be i.
noted that some of these funds
had excesses of revenue over ex-
penditures, while others had ex-
cesses of expenditures over reven-
ne, we again call attention to the
fact that in view of the overall
deficit, it is absolutely imperative
that expenditures for non-essential
purposes be curtailed."
This clearly marks the path for
the next board to follow, and it
looks like a lot of wedding and
hoeing will have to be done.
Tuesday, the Board of Commits
sioners, with all members but one
present. passed the situation off
lightly enough. Their comment on
the transcript of minutes, reads as
follows:
-. Recommendations accom-
panying such reports were noted
and discussed with Mr.. Howard,
(the auditory. 1t was pointed out
by Mr.. Howard that progress had
been made to adjust the inequities
heretofore found in the various
funds of the county, and that such
inequities may be speedy resolved
in the near future with proper
attention to their causes"
The near future means that
someone else win have to take
steps to make the corrections, and
new employees must be found to do
the job, as these same conditions
have been commented on by audi
tors now and then during the past
ten years.
The present Board has one more
regular meeting before winding up
its term.
Let's see how much progress it
has been making in wiping out
the '.inequities," or rather 'siniqui-
ties" complained of.
During the past two years I'M
collected taxes have jumped from
$50, 211.89 to 500, 642.S5, according
to this same auditor, while the
county has been spending qearly
twice as much for tax collecting
and law enforcement.
During the past two years. the
deficit, that is overspending, has
only dropped from $4,000 to
$47,71S.40, which includes $685.
794.63 Of General funds. This
doesn't show much improvement in
view Of the tremendous jump made
in the tax levy each year. For sew
eral years, the present Board Of
Commissioners have been increas-
ing the budget at the rate Of about
$25,00 year.
The 500, 642.53 in uncollected
taxes represents only the accumu-
lation Of unsolicited sums over
nine-year period, or since 1940.
Taxes still owing for prior years
appear TO have been forgotten. A
further audit including prior years
i" 4.