The record-union., 1896-12-24
THE STATES MAINTENANCE.
What II Costs to Run CALIFORNIA;
Government
Controller Colgan's Report and the
Recommendations Made
by Him.

Controller Colgan has handed in his
report to Governor Budd for the forty
sixth and forty seventh fiscal years, and
1t is now in the hands of the State
Printer
1t shows that for the forty-sixth fis-
cal year the increase in cash In the
State treasury over the preceding year
was $122, ,S21 Al. The total cash in the
State treasury on June 80, 1896, was
Eli ,001 81. On June 80, 1895, it was
$2,7S7, ,67S 81. showing an increase in
the forty seventh fiscal year as against
the forty-sixth of $2,S23,322 "a. The
total receipts in the forty-siXth fiscal
year, including transfers, was $40, 1885,
571 II, and in the forty-seventh was
$1O.412, ,63S 80. The receipts for the
two years exceed the expenditures by
$2.217 1855 73.
He says: "On September l, 1894.
there remained in the general fund
balance of but $37 ,307 81 to meet neces-
ssry expenditures until the first IN
stallment of State taxes should be pald
into the State treasury the following
December. In order that expenses
might be met and the creditors of the
State paid in cash, I transferred from
other funds to the general fund the sum
OF $4,000 during the month of Sep
tember, and during the month of No
venlber $150,000 additional, which
proved sufficient to meet all demands
until the general fund was replenished.
On May /. 1895, the general fund was
orerdrawn to the extent of $50. .434 81,
and again, on August /, 1890, to the
amount of STAG, 754 81, and this condi-
ton continued until the following De-
cember, when the situation was re-
lieved by the incoming first tnstallment
of State taxes.
''It was to such a condition of affairs
that I called particular attention in my
last biennial message and suggested
remedy therefor. I wish to again urge
upon the attention of the Legislature
the absolute necessity of providing suf-
ficient revenue to meet the appropr1a-
ttons made, and in the case of large ap-
propriations for special purposes, to
make them available after the lst OF
january following their enactment
THE general fund Is now in a most
healthy condition, and should not be
allowed to again become exhausted. AS
shown in the foregoing summary, the
balance IN the fund June Both last was
81, 557 300 10, and at this writing there
still remains a heavy balance.
STATE SCHOOL FUND.
1.-THE revenue for the support of COM
mon schools arises from property tax,
poll tax and a. tax on collateral inherit
ances; from interest upon unpaid prln-
cipal due from sales of lands granted
by the General Government to the State
for educational purposes known as
State school lands; from interest on
bonds held in trust by the State for the
support of common schools, and from
the sales of Geological Survey reports.
The money arising from all these
sources is known as the State school
fund The Controller is required by law
to report, on the first Monday in jan
uary and July of each year, to the Su-
perintendent of Public Instruction,
statement of the securities belonging to
the school fund, of the moneys In the
State treasury subject to apportion-
ment, and the several sources from
which they accrued.
"The money is apportioned by the Su-
perintendent and paid out upon Con-
tToller's warrants, issued upon presen-
tatton Of the Superintendent's drafts, in
favor of the several County Treasurers.
THE amount necessary TO be raised
for the State school fund by an ad va
lorem tax is 81 for each census child
between the ages of 5 and II years,
which census IS reported to the Con-
tIoller by the Superintendent of Pub
lie instruction on or before the tenth
day Of August Of each year.
For the forty-sixth fiscal year the
tax levy for school purposes was 81
0J7,279 The amount actually collected
was s.. .235, ,63S 81, Of which S80913 81
was taxes collected from railroads for
the years 1856 and 1887. From other
sources the receipts were S594, ,357 50.
For the forty-seventh fiscal year the
amount levied was 81. 195, ,459. The
amount collected was S2,320, ,2T0 0S, of
which $50, 2S4 34 was railroad taxes for
the year 1887. Other receipts amounted
to S722, $50 OF, making the aggregate
receipts for the year S3.042. 800 10. The
amount apportioned to the counties was
S3.037, ,933 45, an amount equal to 50 40
fer each school child.
THE census returns for 1896 made by
the County Superintendents, and re-
ported TO me by the superintendent of
Public Instruction, give the aggregate
NUMBER Oh SCHJBl ci4itQTeH OF Ifle reQlu-
site age as $50, 100. The amount nee
essary to be raised. by the tax levy for
school purposes for each of the forty
ninth and fftieth fiscal years is
S2.314.963."
He recapitulates the history Of the re-
assessment of railroad taxes for the
years 1880 to 1885, inclusive by the
State Board of Equalization in accord
+I,a Act
and the subsequent payment OF all the
taxes after the decision of the Su-
Ireme Court and says:
This closes the final chapter in the
history of the railroad tax cases. and it
Is a matter of congratulation that this
question, which has dragged it's slow