The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-11
THE FINANCES OF THE STATE
Auditor Rice Estimates that the Expend-
itures VIII Exceed the Receipts.
The Next Legislature Urged to Give Atten-
tion to Several Defects in the Sys-
TEN Of Tax Assessment.

very lame TOT the reason Lnas tIeTe are siea1
Inequalities existing between the counties. The
Legislature is urgently requested to enact some
law that will reach the question. The time
given to the State Board of Equalization to per-
form its work is entirely inadequate. There is no
power to send for persons or papers to assist in
making the equalization. and no funds are set
aside with which to carry on the work The
suggestion is made that 1T would be great
deal better if district boards Of equal cation
were authorized to GO over the work of county
boards and establish uniform value of lands
in such districts, and then have the work of the
district boards 60 to the State board to equalize
bs*ween the districts"
Following 1.-THE custom of his predecessors
Mr.. Rice calls attention to the question of taxa
ton of personal property. and the very evident
erroneous returns that are made throughout the
State This is apparent" he says, "from the
fact that our personal property seem yearly to
decrease which is not the case" He regards
this as one Of the most important questions that
will come before the General Assembly, and
asks that in justice to the taxpayers who are
excessively assessed, it should be given atten-
ton.
The assessment of real estate the past year, he
says, establishes new valuation on such prop
erty of the State, which, under the law, will be
the basis of taxation and revenue for the next six
years. The result of the appraisement will be
to reduce the amount Of revenue for State pur-
poses. The total valuation Of real estate inn
proveme nts and personal property for 1885 was
1913, 526 ore and the total valuation as returned
10 the State Board of Equalization, for 1886 is
$737, 7O8. 942. The increase made by the State
Is ~
was $2812214 and the decrease was 81 TAP, 235,
making net increase, added to the valuation
returned by the counties of ST, 742, 835, TO which
Is added the total assessments of railroads for
1886, 500, 244, 800, making $794, 696, 597, which
shows total reduction in the valuation of $685.
687 1862 The basis on which to estimate the
revenue. as shown by the foregoing figures, is
1884 696 597 which. on q tax levy of IL cents on
the 800, will make 1858, 635. The receipts
from prisons, benevolent Institutions insurance
and poll tax will increase that amount to ST.
B73 $780, The estimated expenses for 1888 will
be 1881. 631; to which should be added ex-
penses for employees, fuel. light and water for
the new State house, $50 GOO, and for Purdue
University, 800, 600, making the total 81. 331 631
an excess of receipts over expenditures of $42-
004. The Auditor adds that this includes no
estimates for the new hospitals for the
at Evansville, Logansport and Richmond, and
In this connection, letter is presented from
DR.. James q. Rogers which states that the
Board of Commissioners will require $l07, 900
for the completion Of the new hospitals and for
their maintenance, including repairs and minor
buildings; $50 900 per year per hospital for the
fiscal year ending Oct. 81 1887. and for the fiscal
year ending Oct. 81, 1888, $4,000 for each hos
pital
For the year 1889, the report says, the expend-
itures will be at least 100000 more than the
legislative appropriation, and should be consid-
cred in the estimate of that year It is very
evident, says Mr.. Rice, that some steps should
be taken to meet these increased demands upon
the treasury.
Assuming that the amount of revenue collect
cd In 1887 will be the same as in 1886. the Aud
ator arrives at the following conclusions in re-
gard to the necessities Of the year 1887:
Balance in general fund Oct 81, 1886 $3.50, 39o.12
Estimated income. 1873 $500
Total. .............. 81. Alb O25.12
Estimated current expenses. 81. 331 631.OO
To which should be added such extraordinary
expenses as may be authorized. and of which it
is certain the following will be necessary: =
Additional hospitals for insane. $419. 556.05
Completion of new Statehouse....... 100000
Total. 81 ss1, l87.o5
Leaving an additional charge to be
met during the year 1887 and
above the estimated receipts $48S, 1913
These estimates do not provide for the mainte-
nance of the new hospitals for the insane or their
equipment, as suggested by Dr. Rogers
In furnishing estimates and suggestions upon
which to base the appropriation bills to be
calls special attention to several items, the first
of which is the matter of employees for the
State-hou When all the officers move to the
new building the present force of janitors will
have to be greatly increased, and he suggests
that committees from both houses meet with the
State house Commissioners, and determine on
the number of employees and fix their compensa-
ton.
In referring to Purdue University, the Auditor
explains that his reason for emitting any recon-
kpnor Not 49, ill.,, e. AL
ton Is because for some years a comparatively
small sum has been appropriated and at other
times larger amounts. The Bloomington Uni
versity bonds are also referred to, of which he
says "By an act approved March 3, 1883, tax
Of one-half of per cent. was levied on each one
hundred dollars worth of taxable property for
an endowment fund for the university which
usually amounted to $40. 000 This money I'M
der the provisions of the law, was to be loaned
to the State to pay off her Understanding in
1ebtedness Each year, aud at any time there
IS an accumulation in the treasury, a non. nego-
table bond. bearing per cent. interest is to be
Issued In favor of the university, and the money
collected by this tax to be loaned to
the State for the purpose set forth
IN the act At present the amount loaned from
this fund to tho State requires payment of in
ferest OF $4,000 per annum. have made the
Recommendation for 1888 at 81 900. and for 1880
for $5O00, because 1t is more than likely that the
accumulation of this fund and its transfer to the
general fund as loan will require an expend-
iture of that much in interest on the amounts SO
borrowed.
The total receipts of the new State house fund
amount 90 So O30 663. o. The total disburse
ments have been ST, 800, 1856 &c. OF this
amount there has been d;sbursed
In the construction OF the building.
according to the report of the State-house Com
missioners 81 GA 379 80. and for official expenses
Sl64 $50 09, leaving balance in the State house
fund, Oct 81, 1886, of 1921, 1903 98. OF this
amount there belongs balance to the furnish
ing fund of $144 436 81; leaving to the credit of
the State house fund proper, 76,8GZ41 The
collections of State tax for December will APP
proach s65, 900. making total to the credit of
the fund in January next of Sal, SGT a. There
can be no further collections or revenue for this
as the counties rarely complsss their
settlements until the latter part of June,
1857 Assuming that the collection is made by