New-York tribune., 1876-05-17
THE STATE FINANCES.
HOW TAXATION WAS REDUCED.

HOW TAXATION WAS REDUCED.
ECONOMY IN TIE DEPARTMENTS rs-INCREAsED VAL
UArloN OF PRoPERTY-FRAUDULEST REPAIHs
TO THE CANALS STOPPED.
lrRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrBuSs1
ALBANY, May 16.-Gov. Tilden in one OF
his messages last year stated that with the reducuonso
bc made by a more judicous expenditure for canal pur
poses the abolition Of extraordinary repairs and the In
stution Of immediate reform in certain branches Of the
government there no reason. why the taxes which
were then placed six mills the dollar. should not DO
reduced to three mills, or an approximation thereto
The present budget fixes the rate at 3ii2i Mills
something lees than one-half mill more than the
amount estimated by the Governors reduction OF 2iS
mills of tax and of about S6,0000O0 OF the aggre
gate Of taxation. Not since 1859 has the tax
rate approached as low a figure as at pres
cnt 1t has, indeed, reached as high as 90
mills the dollar and low as IS mills. but 1t has
never come the minimum as at present One
great cause OF the enormous decrease OF the tax rate
OF course the increased valuation of property by the
assessors last year. Ii was then rated at nearly
100000 900 more than during the year previous,
spirit OF and inquiry being abroad 10 the
land at that which rendered the local assessors
somewhat distrustiu OF the perfect mpunity with which
their criminay negligent valuations might be con-
tnued But great factor OF the reduction has been
the abolshment OF the canal extraordinary repair ohn
and the infusion OF general spirit OF economy through
out all the departments under the influence OF
the Governors reform messages The savings have been
in many respects IN little things. Nothing could
probably instance completely the effect Ol lno
Governors example upon the departments generally
wonderful reduction OF the printing bills OF The
State from the great figure at which they have been uni
formy placed to that of $47,50O the lump pree con-
traccd for with Parmenter & Co.
But the reduction OF the rate great as it s might
well have been greater II is the opinion OF Controller
Robinson that one-qusrter of mill might have been
dropped from the estimate 1.-The school fund tax az
upon the valuation of last year the income to be received
from the Iii mill rate will be much more than the schools
will require The Of u Of mill for the extin-
giishment OF the bounty debt will be easily suf.
cient the Controller has been enabled to exchange at
very advantageous rates his State and United states
securities for large portion of the bounty loan stocks
hitherto on the market and has every TO believe
that he continue to cancel them in that way The in
vestment in bounty debt stock that OF
it may remain in the hands OF tho present holders after
April 1877, when the interest ceases but in the
time II is readily exchanged Since April the Con-
troler has received $4,000 in this stock from firm
in NewYork City, The tax OF 70 mills .or general
poses includes the appropriation for the Cap
o seps @ tax ' Of ni m SS
with this addition the levy will be enough. The
low as 3Ss, mills instead 3e, and still have served
all the purposes needed. The surplus, however, WI
into treasury and remain unexpended balances 10
be applied to further reductions next year.
In the tax levy Of the preseut year there no canal tax
sources during the early days of the session. the Cover
nor and the Controller both concluded that There would
be necessity for appropriation There was
"a deficiency remaining from tho year previous,
but funds enough were available from the
Treasury which could be transferred 20 the canal
debt sinking fund to meet this deficiency, aud all
additional expenses IN the way OF ordinary re-
pairs. IL was not contemplated therefore that theEe
would be any bill submitted 10 either House looking 20
for canal purposes strangely enough however,
bill has been discovered in the Governors await
ing his consideration having passed both Houses wMes
provides tax Of threetenths OF mill for DEFICIENCIES
In the canal debt sinking fund Neither the Cntroher
nor the Governor was aware OF the presence oi aht
such measure in either House The Controller haV'ns
been informed OF Its purpor has mdOlsed upon the ~
formation that there funds available in the treasury
Tor the purpose II has IN view, and the Governor WIZ
probably veto II. ~,
The tax Of lis, mills passed by the legislature VIII
OF course be levied upon the valuation OF last ye9f a
will amount to IS lss57l which IL a reduction upon .no
tax of last year OF S6,0ls, ,lo9 The Controller ns II
Gently received report Of the valuations o rra anu
which gives the grand total at 81 2i66,2o12 an
crease OF S75,453277 over even the large yaaatonV
| last year. This statement Is TO dnleIgV,
revision by the AssessOrs when II viii dOupRs5
be further increased. and upon its aggregate tne t
year will be levied. Ii Is estimated at the Conn
er's office that the capitol appropriation Is kept s
bounds the tax next year should be three mills "A
Among the remarkable changes In the assessineny,,t
shown by the report OF the local assessors NeNa a
County Is placed at 81 zoos 943 699, or deersaT,
County shows increase OF S4s9S ooS. a.nsus moos
County shows increase OF S66,S44,6lS; Cataas
Of SIi 663 i24; Chenango, $l2625.0O5 Jefferson ga
773 s2s; Kockand, S10,s3S49S and weschoster,
s293O2 while among those decreasing In VaI1,r, ~,
schaye- County shows reduction o. osnd CAV.
Tompkins, S2,72S ll9 Richmond. S2lol.4Ao' ~" ~
| uga S29SA.02e