The San Francisco call., 1897-03-18
Governor Budd Intends to
Strike Out Numerous
Appropriations.
Working for a Bill Which Will
Provide for a Forty.Cent
State Levy.
Should He Succeed, His Successor
Would Inherit a Deficiency
of $4,000, 900.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, March 17.-Gov-
ernor Budd is planning to bring about the
passage of ta1-levy bill which shall pro-
vide for State tax of 40 cents on the 500,
exclusive of the cents tax for the State
University. In order to do this he will
probably be compelled to leave to his sue
cessor in office and the next Legislature
the legacy of deficiency of between $3,-
00O 600 ana $4, 000, 600.
The tax levy was the subject of long
and important discussion in the Cover
nor's Office to-day. There were present at
the conference: Governor Budd, Control
ler Colgan, Chairman VOORHEES, of the SEN
ate Finance Committee, Chairman Guy of
the Ways and Means Committee, William
Johnson, Robert T. Devlin, TREY L. Ford,
E.. S. Leake, ASSEM- blyman Cutter, Chief
Clerk Burk of the Finance Com mittee and
Chief Clerk GiIlis of the Ways and Means
Committee.
Governor Budd informed his confreres
that he desired to keep the State tax levy
for the next two years down to 40 cents on
the $lOO, and invited them to make sug-
gestions as to how this could be done with
out seriously interfering with the proper
maintenance of the State government and
State institutions.
Among the measures which carry the
largest appropriations are what are known
as the dredger bill. the State highway bill
and the coyote-scalp claims bill. After
due consideration of these measures, the
Governor decided that instead of providing
for $500. COO in the tax levy for the dredger
bill he would allow for but 500, 600 to be
expended in the next two fiscal years. OF
this amount he estimates that $50 900 will
be used the first year and $50, 600 the Sec
ond year in connection with the work OF
deepening the channel of the Sacramento
River. This determination OF the Gov
ernor effectually puts a stop to all the talk
of those who have opposed the dredger
proclaiming that it was the intention of
the Governor 10 veto the bill.
From the present outlook and the re-
marks made by the Governor it is almost
certain that he will veto the State high
way bill, which ingeniouslv calls for a
taA levy OF quarter of mill on the dol
lar, which, in the ordinary way of ex-
pressing tax levies. would be 21z cents on
$1O0. This measure would, therefore,
carry an appropriation of 5000, 600 for the
two years, and would take from the tax
payers of San Francisco $50, COO year
without returning one dollar TO that City
and County in the shape OF road improve
ments.
So far as the coyote claims bill is con-
cerned it will be signed by the Governor,
should it reach him, but he will provide
in the tax levy for the payment of but
small portion of the claim, as he antici-
pates that the Board OF Examiners will
pass favorably on very small portion of
them.
The amount of the general appropria-
ton bill as 1t passed the Senate is $5. .307,-
CAT. From this the Governor has decided
to strike out many items so as to bring
the total amount OF these appropriations
nearer to the 40 per cent tax levy. But
even with the knife applied deeply in this
direction there will be further need of
heroic chopping on the numerous claim
bills.
As decided upon by the Governor the
40 cent tax levy will provide for the fol-
lowing amounts for each of the forty
ninth and tiftieth fiscal years:
For the general run ....-...........$2,34 343, SO2
For the school fund. 314,963
For interest and sinking fund. ......,.... 14l435
This will call for $4,000, 900 for the two
wears. There will be, it is estimated, sur
plus of about 81 900, 900 in the treasury at
the end of the present fiscal year. and the
2cent tax of the State University Will raise
$780, coo for the two years. From these
figures it will be seen that Sill ,0S0, 600 will
be available for running the State gov
ernment and the State institutions for two
years. for the deficiency created during
the past two years and for the payment
of claims against the State.
On the other hand appropriation, de-
ficiency and claim bills will in all proba-
billty be passed agsregating about $15.-
600, 600. How to adjust this discrepancy
of nearly $4,000. 000 between the amount
that will be raised by a 40 cent tax and
the amount that will be appropriated by
the LepislafIlre is tha ditficnlt nrnhlem