The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-30

Floating debt ,sSo.ess Z
Bonded debt ...-....--..........-.. @"'e"e W
Total . ............$2.ls Is. ass =
Cash on hand. exclusive OF
school funds ....... ............S lsi,sSs o
Taxes due from counties and
To be returned eur to general fund
from sale OF granted lands 6s9.Sf' AZ
Entering upon a discussion OF the
states finances, the auditor says;
Attention is directed 10 the fact that
the value Of the property OF the state IS
not included in the foregoing list OF as
sets. although erection and equipment OF
the several educational. charitable. re-
formatory ana penal Institutions OF the
state is directly responsible for very
large proportion of it's Indebtedness. Con-
sidering this property as asset. the
statement OF resources should be as fell
lows:
Cash on hand. exclusive OF
school funds .....-...-..........{ Isl, 40 81
Taxes due from counties and
delinquent ---... ....-....-.-..-- soo,sSS %
Lands, buildings, fixtures, fur
niture, etc. not Including
granted LANDS .-......-.......... = 1898 SO
Total ........ ..................$s.9 go, TO S.
"A
1894, the liabilities of the state, as dis
closed by Statement III. page IS. state
auditors report, 1894, were 81, All. els Al.
October 81, 1896, they were 81 lS5, o3S. y, an
apparent increase in the Indebtedness OF
the state Of S767. 1851, which can be at
tributed TO the very considerable diminu-
ton in the revenues Of the state. the de-
hnquent state taxes having increased dur
ing the same period from SIS, 600 10 $780,
80. 80. or $3.50, 9o5. 80.
THE receipts in the general fund dur
ing the two years Just ended were S4S5,-
LIS. 81 less than during the two years i'm
mediately preceding. a decrease OF 2a.s
per cent, while the value OF taxable prop
erty, as equalized by county boards. di-
minished 81. 445, gS5. or only S.4 per cent.
II Is hardly necessary TO add that the
rate of tax levy has not changed.
My predecessor estimated the expenses
of the state Irom the general fund for the
fiscal period just ended al 81, 80. 3lS.75; the
appropriations made from the general fund
10 cover the expenses OF this period were
$780,, 670.96, or s445. Sa2.21 more than the
amount thus recommended. His estimate
of the receipts in the general fund for said
perSod was 81, al, coo; the actual receipts
fell short of this amount $685., l06.S4. the TO
tai receipts in the general fund being
sl,024, Ss3.I6. or $642, 717.so less than zhe
amount OF the general fund appropria-
tons.
Estimates.
81 have estimated the receipts in the
general fund for t4ie ensuing two years at
S,SS2,24S. j frankly confess that this esti-
mate is made with the expectation of more
favora bic conditions and prosperous times,
and in the belief that measures will be en-
acted providing more adequate. speedy
and complete methods of tax collection
than are contained IN existing revenue
laws. II such measures are not enacted.
the receipts are likely 10 fan short OF these
figures.
THE estimates of expenditures are Of
fered after a careful, minute and thor
ough investigation of the accounts of the
several departments and institutions OF
the state. as disclosed by the records and
files OF this office, and upon a complete
examination OF the items cornpr4S. ne che
expenses of these departments and IN
sttutions during the two years lust past.
No allowance has been made FOR nsw
buildings or other improvements. In other
words, 1 have eliminated everything be-
heved to be not absolutely necessary for
simple maintenance, and 1 am firmly of
the opinion that In each instance these es-
Inmates are placed at the lowest figure
consistent with efficient service and sue
cessful management. on the other hand,
am equally confident that they are suf-
nc.ent for that purpose.
The revenues OF the state are not suf-
fcscnt 10 Justify "a greater expenditure
than the amount OF these estimates, which
aggregate si.l0o.2vJ IL we add 10 this
amount the interest accommodating during
the ensuing fiscal period upon the present
general fund warrant Indebtedness, which
VIII approximate s2s4 seS.SS, this viii ueces-
state an income Of 1854, to6 ~, an increase
OF $3.50. az. or sS17 per cent. over the reve-
nnes Of the past two years. II the indebt~
edness OF the state is 20 be kept WITHIN ats
present limits. Doubtless the receipts will
reach this amount. but they cannot be ex-
pected 70 greatly exceed X unless radical
changes are made In the laws relative TO
the collection OF taxes"