The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1959-02-13

from the people is any demand we
should stupidity go to extremes
merely to see how much we can
save if it be to the extent of Grip
ping the county's essential serv-
ices. 1t is plain we must see how
wisely we can handle it but we
should also be alert to know the
occasion when spending of money
can be an investment bringing flu
ture benefits to all. We should
spend it only for those things for
the common good; and not fol
things unnecessary or prohibited
by law as has been done time after
time in recent years. In handling
this money we must constantly be
on guard, for efforts will be made
to influence US to spend more and
more. Need is no consideration
with those who are afiame with
love of the reckless spending of
the earnings of other people. 1t
would be criminal for US to waste
the hard-earned money of those
people, who, being our friends
have given US the grave respon-
sibility of managing their cash
with caution and honesty.
The way is plain for US. There
are warning signs boldly set up
to guide us on the right course.
The last county audit showed over
a period of some years, more than
100000 in uncollected taxes;
deeper scrutiny might disclose a
larger sum. This same auditors
report showed the county also in
the red upwards of $4,000 in it's
general fund. These things are the
result of somebody's neglect. In
sufficient effort has been made to
collect the taxes, and an unfair
situation results, in that some peo-
pie have been allowed to not pay,
while others who do pay have had
an undue burden unfairly forced
upon them.
This condition came about from
lack of Supervision; our predeces-
sors din't do their duty in de-
handing complete reports from
other officials. The Board itself
and others evidently neglected to
maintain budgetary control over
the various funds, and money time
after time has been dished out for
this and that purpose in complete
disregard of law, or without rela-
ton to funds budgeted and funds
in hand. This indicates to me that
several officials have had too lit
tie concern for what is right and
fair and businesslike; and that
some whose prime responsibility is
to stand guard over the budget,
have impassively permitted things
to ride along in any old way.
This large figure of uncollected
taxes which has accumulated dur
ing the greatest period of expan-
sion and prosperity that Dare
County has ever known, bears suf-
ficient witness to the insufficiency
of effort made in this department.
/ hope we can soon find the way
to bring about an improvement,
whereby those who have SO long
shirked their responsibility shall
be brought to taw in simple justice
to all the faithful, regular tax
payers who have constantly car
ried the burden of the county gov
eminent. In this effort we should
first assure ourselves through the
aid of a qualified auditor, just who
owes and how much and we
should give all such delinquents
fair notice of the necessary ac-
ton with an early request they
pay up.
l may repeat an old axiom, that
there can be no poor or incompe-
tent county employees nor poorly
governed county if it has a good
Board of Commissioners. A County
Board composed of men Of ability
and zeal for their trust can set
the pace all other employees must
1t all sums up to a SIM
pie problem of the same good bus
mess practice which you gentle
men have all manifested in your
own affairs.
A Grave Responsibility
The office of county commits
sioner is a grave responsibility
for any man. No one should as
pire to it who doesn't have COM
business ability, abso-
lutte honesty, unfiinching courage
and tireless zeal to work for the
betterment of his county. The bus
mess management of this county
now falls into our hands. Through
our guidance of the appropriations
we make we also set the level of
law enforcement in, this county.
We cannot have proper law en-
forcement in Dare County if we
allow the funds set up for it to be
squandered simply to create jobs
for friends or to satisfy political
considerations. Our first concern is
to our citizens and the visitors
whom we have invited here to live
with us part time and to invest
their money Thau have every