End of the Road for Taxpayer Labor
Walla Walla County replaces the custom of 'working off' road taxes with a new cash-only payment system.
The new road law went into effect this morning and the 31 old road supervisors who have heretofore had charge of all road work in the county were succeeded by three new officers. They are L. Lanning for the first district, John H. Fuller for the second and L. R. Hawley for the third. All the old supervisors have turned over the county property and books that they had in their possession. The new supervisors, county commissioners and county surveyors will meet some time this month and outline the work to be done as soon as the weather will permit. Under the provisions of the new law all the work of improving roads will be done under the supervision of the commissioners and the old custom of allowing the taxpayers to work out their taxes is done away with. Hereafter all road taxes will be paid in cash to the county treasurer.
“The old custom of allowing the taxpayers to work out their taxes is done away with. Hereafter all road taxes will be paid in cash to the county treasurer.”
This shift from labor-based tax credits to cash-based public works marks the professionalization of local government infrastructure, a process that continues to stir debates about the role of the citizen versus the role of the state contractor in maintaining our roads.
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