Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-03-10
State Finances.

has been large increase in disburse-
ments within recent years. In the
four years from 1886 to 1890 the
state expenses amounted to S1,551,-
261. This is over 100000 greater
than the expenditures from 1882 to
1886 and exceeds by S423, 900 the
disbursements for the four years pre-
ceding the enactment of the corpora
ton tax law-covering the years 1873
to 1882. AS an offset to this it IS
but fair to note the increase IN asses
sed valuation and personal property,
which has been large in the last thir-
teen wears. The total assessed valu-
alton of real and personal estate in
1876 was $99, SOB. In 1889 it
was S16O, O,848, ,357, showing an in
crease of over $50, 100000. During
the same period the total amount of
deposits in the savings banks of the
state show an increase of 100 per
cent. ''Forbes," in letter publish
ed in the Boston Journal recently,
went over at length this matter OF
the state finances, and from his re-
view the facts collated here are gath
cred.
The legislature in 1882 passed an
act to provide q revenue for the pay
ment of state expenses, known as the
corporation tax law, which provided
for the assessment of direct taxes
upon the corporate franchise OF busl-
ness in the state of railroad, insur-
ance, guarantee, express, telegraph,
telephone, steamboat and transport
alton companies, savings banks and
trust companies. The corporation
tax law took effect in 1888, and has
been in operation seven years. The
trainers of this measure were OF the
opinion that the taxes annually asses
sed against corporations would be
sufficient to meet all state expenses.
Their expectations, however, have
not been fully realized, as approprla-
tions and expenses have been increas-
ed each biennial term since the law
was passed, necessitating the assess
ment of three state taxes on the grand
list during this period to meet the lia-
bilities incurred by the legislature
and state government.
The expenses of the reform school,
the house of correction and the state
prison were S251,529 more than the
receipts from 1880 to 1890.
The biennial reports of the state
auditor from 1872 to 1880 showed a
large balance against the state each
term duriug the period for court ex-
penses above the receipts for fines
and costs collected. From 1872 to
1880 the court expense orders
amounted to S554, ,905.41, the fines
and costs collected being only S152,-
493. &c, making a deficit of S402 AL
65. Legislation was effected in 1880
changing the system of collecting
fines and costs and placing the audit
inc of court expenses in the hands OF
the auditor of accounts. Under the
accounting system adopted in 1880
, there has been a great saving effected
! to the state in this direction. The
! figures for the last eight years are as
| follows:
: Court expense orders, $685., 1926
! fines and costs collected, 1924 ,651.63
5 balance against the state, $50, ,531.23
| this shows a saving of S311, ,88O.42 tC
the state over the previous eigh
2 wears. For the fiscal year ending
= july 81, 1888, the fines and costs col
e lected are in excess of the sum Of
: court expense orders, land for the frs
S time in the history of the state.
The expenses Of the probate courts
have averaged some $11,75O per an
mum since 1876, which is about 500
> less than the average amount of fee
annually received. The state audit
g or's orders issued for the fiscal yea
n ending July 81, 1889, amount t
S314.57S.3 50. This is exclusive o
: orders for court expenses. The prln
4 cipal items included in the abov
+ amount are as follows: Estimates @
% county clerks, 81, ,202.64; 3; sergeant
a alarms expenditures, $9,677.32
20 house of correction expenses, 81
! 1922; state prison expenses, $40
Il 200: reform school expenses, SlI
# 61O.29; salaries, ,$55, ,029 40; militif
10 $33 1925 "A; soldiers home, $4,000
= university of Vermont, $4,000; ne
h insane asylum, $4,000.
- At the close of the last bienni;
o. term the resources provided for e1
N ceeded the then existing liabilities {
at the state by $167, 900, which We
20 about the amount of the increase
an state expenses over the precedir
n term. The last legislature passed 8
< act making the time of the closing I
q. the fiscal year June 80. The sta
: treasurer has received from the sta
oo tax assessed for the year ending Jul
as 80, 1890, the sum of S353,412. ii
,t- corporation tax for 1889 is estimate
n s25O,OOO, making the revenue OF t
,er state s6O3, 900 in round numbers f
No. the year. The appropriations al
Iv current expenses are estimated to
; q s40O,O 900, leaving 100000 to me
no other liabilities. Ip the event of t
mo direct tax bill before congress becol
,as ing a law the state will receive S21-