The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-03-21
POLITICS
Continued from Page One)

Tic IdIC VI PG,VOO q year. allu al
that appears to be delaying the
project is that land is not availa-
BILE, for nobody wants it next door.
In the revaluation deal that was
put over, the Board agreed to pay
a New Jersey firm $4,000 by Oc-
tober 1, 1858, to revalue the coun-
TVS real estate, between August of
1857, and March 1, 1858. The work
is unfinished, and the Board has
agreed to extend the time to April
1. It is not believed the Board
wishes it finished before the pri-
mary.
What gripes most people on this
deal is that had it been known the
county was going to put out any
such sum as $4,000 there could
have been found many competent
people in Dare County more ia
miliar with local conditions and
real estate values who would have
been willing to do good job, and
have kept the money at home. AS
it is, contract was made with
firm, whose terms cannot be en-
forced, since the principals live out
of the state. There is no bond or
guarantee of performance. There is
no way the people know of the
qualifications, education or exper-
fence of the strangers responsible
for the work. The people will have
no way of knowing what the final
appraisals approved by the County
Board will be until after the pri-
mary is over. No figures have been
released, and are not expected be-
fore.
A CALLING thing about this stu
alton is that the Board didn't have
the respect and courtesy to send
each taxpayer even a post card, adj
vising of this action, or to say that
on or about such and such a time
some strangers would wander over
their property, taking measure
ments and making notes. The
Board has never told the people
the names of the men, nor what are
the qualifications of these men.
What is now feared is that trou-
BILE will follow this action of the
Board and that taxpayers will unite
into an organization, employ legal
counsel and battle for the rights
which have so long been ignored.
White Elephants
During several years of letting
things ride politically in Dare
County, the people have been sad
died with ever increasing taxes.
The payroll is overloaded with en-
ployees who do little or no work
Some offices have grown until they
are white elephants. Take the case
of the office of Register of Deeds.
Nominally this is an office which is
merely clerical task. 1t is stat
utory office whose chief function
is to record papers for people who
have need of it's services. In several
adjoining counties it has been ably
administered for several years by
women whose offices are models OF
neatness, efficiency, and economy
to their counties. In Dare County,
in fact, the work of the office is
done by an efficient and capable
woman who draws only about 4C
per cent of the salary allotment fol
| this office.
| Yet in Dare County, this Office
has been allowed to run away with
itself. While supposed to support
itself, it falls short of this sum by
some $4,000 a year. While costing
the people $9.63l year, it turns
back, according to the official
county figures, approximately 3d.
500 a year.
Take the office of Sheriff. 1t pays
the Sheriff $4,100 a year and this
IS not a large salary as pay OF
Sheriffs go. In fact, it is not
enough for the risk and response
bility attached, particularly since
on this office is the duty of collect
ing taxes. Amy other county of like
responsibility would pay more,
However the office does carry an
allotment of $2,400 a year for the
travelling expenses Of the office. 1t
pays the salary of a competent and
hard working office deputy, who is
essential if the office is to give
proper service in all its branches.
But this is not the extravagant
part of this office. In addition il
carries on its rolls a number of
employees who draw liberal salar-
les, yet whose combined efforts
would not keep one man busy. So
because of this, the office is now
costing the taxpayers $4,000 a
year.
| Until a few years ago, the Reg
lister of Deeds was of perhaps
more value from amount of work
produced, for he was required to
keep all the tax records, supervise
the listing and computing of taxes
But this work has been turned over
to another office, which now costs
some $4,000 year in addition.
TLa,.a ara co,,oo nff;oo. which n re