The County Treasury Lockdown
Whatcom County officials are at an impasse over a resolution to freeze outstanding warrants, sparking a legal and political battle.
Whatcom, Feb. 24—The county treasury still remains closed to warrant holders, though the treasurer is impatient to have the proposed agreed case submitted to test the validity of the extraordinary resolution of the commissioners sidetracking all outstanding warrants and directing that the levy of 1894 shall be used only for the payment of 1895 obligations allowed by the board. The resolution is based on the assumption that there is now an overissue of warrants, while the treasurer emphatically declares that such is not the case. The board has adjourned until March 4 and has asked the county attorney to give an opinion in writing on the following question: 'Is it necessary for this board in allowing bills in accordance with the resolution passed by this board February 11, 1895, to make any specific indorsement upon said bills to designate upon what fund or levy warrants should be drawn in payment of same?'
“The county treasury still remains closed to warrant holders.”
Budgetary crises and disputes over how to prioritize municipal debt are as common in modern city halls as they were in the 1890s. The struggle over which 'fund' gets paid first is a classic example of local government fiscal management.
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