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

Dunton as Willie Adams. Support
ing cast includes Elsie Hines, 10
Ann Whitehurst, Jackie Twiford,
the responsibilities, and as consti-
tutional officers, the Sheriff and
Clerk of Court elsewhere have
been additionally the highest paid
of county officials, while others,
being statutory offices, have been
paid on the basis of clerks.
Running in The Red
Another thing which vexes citi-
zens who understand the situation,
is the apparent determination OF
the present county board to keeI
the public in the dark about the
peoples affairs. Take for instance
the matter of county audits, but
they are never promptly made as
law requires. The last one was fol
two years ago. At that time the
County General Fund showed {
deficit of $4,000 and some pre-.
dict the figure is now nearer $780,
900. The auditor has repeated!
warned about this condition, bu
nothing is done about it.
This condition puzzles some PEG
pie. 1t is explained simply by the
fact that each year the Boaro
spends more than it appropriate.
taxes to cover. There is no inten
to stick to a budget, once it ha'
been made. 1t is amended al
through the year, without none.
in sight to pay the bills. If the bill
are paid, it has to come through in
creases in taxes the following year
or the schools or some other de
partment of government is Gu
short of funds.
One of the biggest drains Oh
county finances is bitches, canals
ETC., which the Board apparent,
builds for most anyone who ask
for them, provided they are friend
of the Board. These bitches, Otter
built on private property for tn
accommodation of small boats
cost 5000 and up. One direct contri
button was for $4,000 to aid tn
Manteo waterfront. 1t all adds up
Last year the county had an as
sessed valuation of $18,52S,98
With all this large amount of prop
erty to yield taexs, citizens ge
comparatively no improvement il
County Government over the per
iod of 20 years ago, when tn
county had less than a fourth O
today's value. Wasteful manage
ment of county affairs, is costin,
to run Dare County, double that o
any adjoining county. The govern
ment of the 5000 people of Dar
County is costing almost as mucl
as that of the 10000 people o
Beaufort County with $4,000, 0OI
in property values. Taxes are high
er, and there is less return on tn,
dollar.
The difficulty in Dare Count,
has been due to the neglect of it
people in willingness to serve il
public office. Competent people
whose interests and the public's in
terest would have been benefited
have remained silent, not willing
to sacrifice time from their bust
ness; not willing to run the risk o
losing a little trade. The citizen
as whole are anxious for some
one to take over and try to reliev
their burdens. But so few of then
feel able to cope with situation
which has gone so solidly into con
troll of few well-entrenched poll
ticians. The picture is looking ;
little brighter, however, for peopl
are waking up to the fact tina
through schools and other govern
mental channels in Dare County
it is now costing about half-mil
lion dollars year, and it's time t
seriously begin thinking about get
ting something more in return 70
all this money. Citizens are wax
ing up to the Importance of econ
omy, to the need to get rid o
some of the goldbrickers. and PAL
ticular'y to curb the policies whic
are driving prospective investor
and homebuilders away from Dan
County, which now, more than e,
er, depends upon these inves
ments.