The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1899-01-17

the amounts borrowed. The state pays,
therefore, on certificates of indebtedness,
back into these funds the sum of S157.500
annually, the interest being at the rate or
per cent. This interest is one OF the
items of disbursement from the general
fund.
think there never has been presented
to the Legislature at the beginning of the
session an estimate in the nature of
budget showing the necessary expenses for
the current biennial period, together with
a statement of the states fixed income. 1t
has seemed to me, in studying the receipts
and disbursements of the various depart
ments, that it is necessary, if the Legis
lature Is to vote intelligently upon appre-
priations, to have prepared for each legis-
latiVe session such a statement. mas
much as the biennial period of 1899 and
1900 has already begun and some eXpendi-
lures for it have already been made, no
accurate or binding statement can be given
force at this time for the first haf OF
that period. However, it has seemed best
to me to present these estimates and state
mentS in the hope that 1t will become
settled practice of the state, and that here
after all appropriations will be made upon
the basis of estimates, and be binding 70
the extent that nQe considerable eXpendl-
lures can be made in any department be-
You'd the estimates furnished at the open
ing of each biennial session of the Legis-
lature. 1t is not necessary for me TO en-
large upon this. If the Legislature is to
make appropriations, it should first of all
ascertain as accurately as possible the fixed
income Of the state, and thus know Wheth-
err it is necessary to make special proYlS-
ions to meet them; and should have eSt1-
mates so carefully prepared as to be Drac-
tically correct, of what appropriations are
needed by the different departments. IN
order to give you approximately an estl-
mate of what will be required. [ have asked
the regents of the State university, the re
gents of the state normal schools, ana
the board of control 10 furnish me with
estimates of the needs of their several de
partmentS for each Of the two years or
this period; and the needs of the depart
ments in the capitol building have based
upon the expenditures for series OF years,
as shown by the reports of the secretary
of state and the state treasurer.
The regents of the university have pre-
pared q statement showing that with the
strictest economy they can meet the neces-
Sary current expenses of the institution
for the present biennial period with the
sum of $4,000, which sum is already pro
vided for by the appropriations made as
permanent tax levies and percentages OF
license fees together with trust fund in
come, SO that for the ma main OF the
university for 1899 and 1900 no special APP
preparation will have to be made. Farther
on / shall refer to the special appropriation
for new buildings which is asked for.
The amount which will be distributed for
the maintenance of the common schools
for the biennial period is $1,590,0 900, for
which provision is already made by law,
and no special appropriation will be needed
for them.
The normal school regents inform me
that it will require 100000 to pay the
current expenses of the normal schools
for the biennial period This is already
provided for by law.
The board OF control has prepared for
me table showing what it cost during
the last biennial period to carry on the
state institutions, and giving also state
ment showing that it will require for the
current biennial period $1,29923 No de-
auctions have been made for estimated re-
cepts by the state treasurer from the char
liable and penal institutions and from
counties for maintenance of the insane in
the state institutions Comparing this with
the cost of the seven institutions when
were in existence at the opening of the
last biennial period, there is shown re-
duction in expenses of $4,000.
For general administrative purposes and
this estimate / have made upon the basis
of expenses for a period OF several years
it will require So, 1917 For the main
tenance of the judiciary-that is, the cir
cult courts and the Supreme court--it will
require for the biennial period S226,5 3S. The
Legislature will cost about $21I219, the
latter including the cost of the publication
of the laws The total of these estimated
expenses for the present biennial period is
So S77, 1873
A careful estimate of the probable total
income of the state, based upon the re
ceipts for the last few years and includ-
ing years receipts from the special
tax levy made to reimburse the general
fund in 1897 aggregates $3.50 $50. In
this amount, it should be explained, there
is not included the money received from
counties for care of their own insane in
other county institutions. as the state In
this particular acts merely as a clearing
house for those counties, paying each the
amount due on this account; but there is
included an amount of 1857 900, which 1t is
estimated will be received by the state
treasurer from charitable and penal insti-
tutiOns and from counties for maintenance
of their insane in the various state insti-
tutions,
of the state for the present biennial period,
not including any special appropriations
which have been asked and to which refer
ence will be made later, are $6817 ,372;
while the estimated income for the same
period is $6S30, $50. Assuming that these
figures are correct, there would be a deficit
at the end of the biennial period of $46,
522 This deficit is not so great however,
but that by the strictest economy it is
possible to carry on all departments of
the state government for the present bien-
NAL period without provision being made
by the Legislature for an increase of reve-
nue..
There are asked, however, special appro-
priations amounting to more than $500, OOO
which you will be called upon to consider.
These special appropriations are: 100000
by the board of CONTROL half of which
sum is asked for additional buildings for
the new state .cformatory; $25O,O0O for
completing the State Historical building;
$4,000 for the agricultural department of
the State university; 100000 for the erec-
of Engineering of the university. and $751;
900 by the normal schools, besides an APP
preparation for the tax commission, to re-
imburse the trust funds for the loan to
the Agricultural society, and smaller
amounts for other purposes. If all or any
of these appropriations are made, 1t will
be necessary for the Legislature to pro-
vide by special tax levy, or otherwise, the
money to meet them
At this point it may be we'll to say a
word about the special tax which it was
found necessary to levy in the fall of 1897,
and concerning which there has been much
misunderstanding and discussion. For
many years no tax levy was made for gen