Camden Courier-Post – June 20, 1933
Tells Them They Are Trustees for County’s Share of Every Dollar Taken In
Postpones Mandamus
Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd yesterday “laid down the law” to four Camden county municipalities at a hearing of the county’s mandamus proceedings to compel payment of $426,952 in back taxes for the years 1930, 1931 and 1932.
After stressing the importance of setting aside the portion owed the state and county out of every tax dollar collected, Justice Lloyd held the cases over until the September term of court “in the hope that these taxes will be paid.”
‘Out of Clear Sky’
The four municipalities were represented by their respective borough, township or city clerks. The four and the amounts the county alleges are owed for state and county taxes are Pennsauken Township, $120,199.80; Gloucester City, $59,643.91; Lawnside Borough, $41,798, and Delaware Township, $31,958.03.
Firmin Michel, township solicitor for Pennsauken, pointed out that since December 15 his township has paid up $24,877 of taxes due and was making arrangements to pay the balance when the county’s suit was filed “out of a clear sky.”
After listening to a brief outline by George Rothermel, representing County Treasurer J. Wesley Sell, and counsel for the other municipalities, Justice Lloyd spoke.
“I understand that there are some officials of the municipalities here today,” said he, “and I want to say something to them and also to the municipal officials who are not here.”
Responsible as Trustees
“I am not unmindful of the serious financial conditions of municipalities but these governing bodies are in a degree trustees of the moneys received. When they receive moneys in taxes and a portion of this tax should be set aside for the county, they should not apply this portion for other uses to run that municipality.
“In some cases the municipalities have made a serious effort to pay their taxes but I want to stress the fact that these governing bodies can not use all of this money for general purposes.
“When local governments take in $1 in taxes, the persons in charge should immediately deduct the amount due the state and county and put it in a separate fund. If that had been done, this situation would not have arisen.
Word on ‘Fancy Schools’
“Now. another word to those operating governments. The present occasion calls for the close scrutiny of expenditures not only by municipal bodies but by school boards. The public is fed up on extravagance. Instead of the old fashioned modest school house, we now have those fancy high schools. These extravagances have aroused the taxpayers as never before.
“I’m not criticizing the school boards for what they did in the past, but they should try to amend in the future extravagance and waste. It is important, as you can see today by what is happening here, for drastic economy in local government.
“I am going to hold these writs until the opening day of court in the hope that these taxes may be paid.”
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