The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-01-07
TAXATION.

| y CT W DO pAONANtS AOA VI f"sSOcs"ON
2z
TAXATION.
The whole amount Of taxes, inclu-
ding delinquencies, collectable under
state laws during the year 1869, was
$2I, ,O06,332 A.. The Auditor oi
State reports the total amount of tax
es, including delinquencies, collecta-
BILE during the current year at S22,-
S10674 81; an increase of the taxes
Of 1870 over 1869 of $I,SO4, ,353 40
IN 1869 there was collected for the
Sinking Fund, to be applied to the
payment of the principal and interest
of the state debt, the sun of $780,
1O1 II, In the present year, there
will be collected for the same purpose
the sum of $80S,826.61, or $56l, ,475,.
81 less than was collected last year
| A large proportion ofthe taxes col
lected from the people are for coun-
ty, city and other local purposes, and
do not pass through the state treasu-
ry, but are disbursedwithin the cOun.
ties where they are collected. During
the current year the taxes, exclusive
of delinquencies, to be collected fol
all state purposes excepting the com
mon school fund. amount to 81, ,542,-
O25.57, while $IS,187, ,400.92 are to be
collected for local purposes.
+ The foregoing statements, from the
report Of the auditor of state, show
that the taxation Of this year fol
state purposes other than for pay
ments on the principal and interest
of the state debt, exceeds the taxa
tion of last year for the same pur.
poses by the smm of $609,7 ,701 so, and
that taxation for local purposes this
year exceeds that Of last year for the
same purposes by the sum of 81, $780,
725 3S. The local taxes this yeal
are about Al per cent. greater than
they were three years ago, and are
ten per cent, greater than they were
last year. ars
The increase of taxation for state
| purposes is in part due to the amount
collected for the asylum building
fund, which exceeds the amount re.
quired last year for building purposes
by almost 100000. Making due al
lowance for this, the important fact
remains that both state and local
taxes have largely increased.
A remedy for this evil can only be
had through the General Assembly.
The most important measures tC
prevent this rapid increase of taxa
ton, which has heretofore been re.
commended, are revision of the
financial system of the state in ac-
cordance with bills prepared by q
board of commissioners appointed
for that purpose, in pursuance of al
act passed March Is, 1867; short
session of the Genenal Assembly;
adequate fixed salaries for the state
county and municipal officers, with
out perquisites; and definite and
effectual limitations upon the power
of county commissioners, city coun-
ellis, and other local authorities, to
levy taxes and contract debts.
The constitution makes it the du-
ty of the Legislature to restrict the
powers of taxation, borrowing mo-
ney, and the like, so as to prevent
their abuse. ! respectfully suggest
that the present laws comforting these
powers on local authorities require
extensive modification, so as TO COM
ply with this constitutional proyi-
sion. Two modes of limiting these
powers have the sanction Of expert
ence. All large expenditures should
meet the approval of those who are
to bear their burden. Let all extra
ordinary expenditures, therefore, be
submitted to q vote Of the people,
and no tax be levied unless approved
by majority of all the voters of the
locality TO be affected by the tax, at
a special election-the pumbor OF
voters to be asccrtained by reference
to the votes cast at the state election
next preceding such special election.
Another mode is to limit the rate of
taxation which may be levied, and
the amount of debt which may be
incurred. 1t has been said that with
such restrictions upon the powers of
the local authorities, the legislature
will be importlaed, and its time
wasted in hearing applications for
special legislation. The ready ans
wer to all such applications by local
authorities, will be to refer them to
their own citizens for a decision of
the question. Fhe facility with
which affirmative votes can be OBJ
tanned under the pressure of tempo
rary excitement. upon propositions
authorizing Indebtedness, may re-
quire further restrictions upon tle
power to borrow money. 1t is tire
fore suggested, for your considera-
ton, to limit the amount Of debt for
a single purpose, and the. total
amount for all purposes. which any
local authority may contract, 70 a
certain percentage of the taxable
property Of such locality.
The evils here considered are not
new. Fourteen years ago, Governor
MedilI, in his annual message, used
the following language, Which is as
applicable to county and municipal
affairs now as it was when written;
THE irresponsible and eXtrayagant
system of administration which pre-
walls in some of our counties and
cities furnishes the principal cause
for the eHactions which are so gen
orally complained Of There, public
contracts are given to faYolites which
occasion the most lavish expeDdj-
lures. There, also, we find officers
With incomes which shock all correct
ideas ofppblic compensation. These
things have their effect upon the gen
erai tone of public morals. County
reform is a duty conjoined by every
consideration Of public virtue"
The whole Of this important sub |
iect is commended to your candid |