County Commissioners Hike Taxes Amidst Deficit Fears
Facing a projected deficit in the current expense fund, the county board approves a 16-mill levy to cover rising costs in administration and infrastructure.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The board of county commissioners today fixed the tax levy for general and county purposes at 16 mills, an increase of two mills over the previous year. County Auditor Honeycutt presented financial estimates indicating a potential deficit in the current expense fund by March 1904. The budget includes provisions for superior and justice court expenses, county poor relief, and bridge maintenance. The increase reflects the reality of rising costs in county operations, which have exceeded original estimates by over $4,000 in the past year.
“The board of county commissioners in regular session today partially fixed the tax levy for general and county purposes at 16 mills.”
Municipal tax levies and budget shortfalls in the face of rising public service costs have been a constant point of civic contention in Walla Walla for over a century.
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