Show I Budget Abuses by County Condemned Editor The Telegram There is a law on our statute books that requires public officials in our cities towns counties and school districts to operate on a budget basis It requires specifically that working papers papers' shall be filed flIed at the time the tentative budget is submitted for consideration This has for it its purpose the giving of information to the taxpayers and all others concerned as to how tho the budget items are arc arrived at If a certain amount is designated for or roads the working papers should show where the roads are to be bo constructed constructed con con- or 01 maintained how many mil miles s of roads are to be constructed or repaired and all ail other items that will justify the totals When the the Salt Lake county commissioners com corn missioners this year ear presented their tentative budget their attention was called by the tho Utah Taxpayers association association asso asso- to the fact tact that the workIng work work- ing lag papers were lacking Repeated requests were made by the taxpayers ers for this necessary information with the final result that out of the I thirty-one thirty departments In county government only seventeen made mado an attempt to respond This of course makes a huge farce out of the whole proceedings The question is Do the county of officials of- of themselves know where the money is going Have they any plan or program except to spend all the tho money the taxpayers are raising After Arter completing completing- the amounts which they have budgeted they will vIll then proceed to use up the surplus until the treasury is empty How long would this be tolerated in vate ate business Every well weIl con conducted private business operates on a n. budget basis It knows a y year ar in advance own rown own to sn small details what It s to and upon that basis they arc are able to conduct their affairs and antI anticipate their margins In ha falling failing to give this supportive J e evidence of how they prepare the budget the Salt Lake count county commissioners commissioners com corn missioners have done two serious t things They have flouted the law t they hey have ignored the taxpayers taxpayer f from rom whom the they are drawing the r revenues It i 1 is a serious rious situation This gross dereliction materially lessens t the he confidence which the e ers rs lS of this county have in their public pub pub- l lic ie servants who v are supposed to c comply with the tho law and to protect t the ue interests of the taxpayers S S. S L. L T TAXPAYER A YER |