Miami County, Indiana - Chapter 11: Taxation - Finances, 1896

By Nelson W. Miller

(+e might be a great deal written on the subject of county: finances, and an endless number of tabulated statements given. In this article the aim will be to show briefly the development of the county, taxable property, public improvements, etc., and to show the amount of taxes assessed for the various purposes, the receipts and expenditures of the county; the condition of the county, resources and obligations.

The development as shown by the increase of the valuation of taxable property has been remarkable, which may be seen in the following table.

* The tolal taxes for 1895 includes $35,586.24 taxes which is to be collected by the treasurer of the city of Peru, and $4,618.68 by treasurer of the town of Converse, and the balance of $231,115.68 is placed on the state and county tax duplicate and collected by the county treasurer.

Going back to the early days, there was no public enterprise of more importance than the opening and improvement of the public highways. This required a great deul of labor and expense, as the counvy abounded in forests, swamps, hills, rivers, and many smal] streams. These no longer hinder travel or transportation. The forests have been cleared away; the swamps and wet land have been drained, and now we have public highways on nearly all sec- ;ion lines, half section lines, and on many other subdivisions, embracing all the principal routes; bridges' have been constructed to span the rivers and

There is an annual levy of about twenty cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable property in the several townships made, termed road tax, amounting to ubout $19,267.58 for the year 1895, which is mostly worked out on the roads by the persons assessed. And there is also an additional road levy, usually about ten cents on the hundred dollars made which is paid into county treasury, and is expended by the township trustees for small bridges. culverts and repairs, etc.; this tax amounts to $9.313.79 for the year 1895.

Of these roads about 110 miles have been graveled and are all free gravel roads. The building of gravel roads was begun about thirty years ago. however the greater part of these was built about ten to fifteen years ago. And there is more roads being graveled every year, it being a common practice to work out road taxes by hauling gravel. These gravel roads are located on the principle routes, leading to the'towns. and no less than seven terminutes at the city of Peru.

These roads, except the last four. were paid for by an assessment of the lands for one and one half miles on each side of the roads. The Peru and Chili was purchased as a toll rood by Peru and Richland townships and the last three were toll roads purchased by the whole county.

All of these roads are kept in repair at the expense of the county, paid . out of turnpike fund. There being an annual levy of ten cents on eacb one hundred dollars of taxable property in the county, amounting to $14,352.60 in 1895 assessed for the repair, graveling and building bridges on these gravel roads. Showing that for road tax, additional road tax and turnpike fund there is a tax levied for 1895 amounting to $42,933.97 all of which is expended for the repair aud improvement of the public highways and free gravel roads, and in addition to this there is considerable paid out of the county fund especially for bridges. In the last ten years such money paid out of the county fund for bridges, averages ten thousand dollars per year.

Some Other Corporations

ifThe: vewuasioy of railroad property in Miami county amounts to over 14 2-5 per cent of the total valuation of all taxable property of the county.

Assessments For 1895

AG Sable property, number of polls and dogs, and amount of taxes assessed in the several townships and corporations of the county for the year 1895:

State Taxes

Benevolent institutions 5 cents on each $100 valuation. State debt sinking fund 3 cents on each $100 valuation. Educational institutions, 1% cent on each $100 valuation. University endowment } cent on each $100 valuation.

Beer Eeeeeeepeerie

In the table above is shown the number of cents levyed on each one bundred dollars of taxable property in the several townships and corporations of the county, also the amount on each poll.

An Exhibit Receipts. Expenditures

RECEIPTS. EXPENDITURES. sh in treasury iCounty orders outstand- "rasa "1894... $32.198.39; ing June 1, 1894......$ 1,133.99 There has been received the following:! There has since been expended the Sheritfs' fund. _..... 1,857.49! following: Electric ane fonds weparexst DSO ABeSSSID ELA RIG. «os. 4,053.05

Congressional Townsrip Fund

Amount of fund held in trust as shown by report of June, 1894 ... - $30,584.23 Amount of fund received from other counties on account of divided

Common School Fund

Amount since added from fines and forfeitures by clerk of court.... 478.70 Amount since added from fines and forfeitures by the justice of the

School Taxes

The indebtedness of the county is considerably more at this time than it has been for a great many years - -that is, bonds that have to be paid by a tax levied upon all taxable property of the county. We had a beavy bonded indebtedness a few years ago in which the couuty was only security, bonds issued for the construction of the free gravel roads. These bonds were paid by a tax assessed upon the land for one mile and a half out on eaeh side of the gravel roads, and placed on a special duplicate in two installments, for eight years. and collected as other taxes Dy the county treasurer. 'They have all been paid, and the only obligations of the county now are the straight county bonds.

The first bonds now outstanding were issued May 1, 1893, to provide for the insufficient amount of turnpike fugd, which had been used for repairs aud bridges on the free gravel roads. These bonds bear 6 per cent interest and are payable as follows: May 1, 1896, $4,000 and $720 interest; 1897, $4,000

Bonds were also issued June 16, 1894, to pay for the bridge erected over Eel river at Mexico, which bear 6 per cent interest and are payable as follows: June 16, 1895, $5,000 and $600 interest (this interest has been paid but the bond is still outstanding); 1896, $5,000 and $300 interest, amounting to $10,300.

Thus showing the total bonds outstanding to be $40,000, and the interest to be paid $8,160, amounting to $48,160, which is to be paid off in ten years, as above shown.