Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-02-22
FACTS AND FIGURES.
Regarding the Increase In the state Tax
Levy-Expenses of the Executive, Leg
islatiye and judicial Depart
ments No higher.

ments No Hisher'
Democratic newspapers, says the
Kalamazoo Telegraph, are again try
ing to make political capital out of the
fact that the state tax levy for the
period beginning July l, 1899, and end
ing July /, 1900, is S3,725, S35.Ol and
the tax levy for the period beginning
July /, 1900, and ending July l, 1901,
will be So, 90S, $50 .66-a total of So, 634,-
5l567.
The state tax for the calendar year
1897 was S2,379, ,9O7.72; and for the cal
endar year 1898, a., l5S, 40. Ga total
of "a, S3S 6S7 80.
The increase in the tax levy made by
the last legislature amounts to 81, ,O95,-
S37.77.
On the surface these figures seem to
prove that the last legislature was
grossly extravagant But let us see.
There are five great heads into which
state appropriations may be divided;
~ For educational institutions; (2l for
asylums mot insanel and schools; (Sl
for insane; (4) for reformatories; (a)
for miscellaneous purposes.
The increase in appropriations for
educational institutions the first
group was $46S, 32OS4. Under this
head there were six items for build
ing or special purposes" alone, indi-
eating the growth of these institutions.
Surely the taxpayers do not regret the
growth of the state educational fac
ilities
The increase in the appropriations
under the second head (asylums, not
for the insane was S3ll, 779, 80 for the
two years. Five items were for build
ing or special purposes.
Under the general head ''for insane, "
the increase in appropriations was ST.
l45, ,030 56. OF this amount $4,000
was for building or special" purposes
made necessary by the demands upon
the five state insane asylums.
The balance of the increase is the
cost to the state of its insane, con-
stantly increasing The current eX-
penses for the state asylums amount
to half a million dollars annually.
The increase in the appropriations
for reformatories was $3.50, 900, due to
the growth of the institutions and the
demand for more and large buildings.
The appropriations under the mis-
cellaneous head were $4,000 less for
1899 and 1900 than for 1897 and 1898.
This was due to the fact that the "cur-
rent expenses of insane asylums and
prisons were for the first time take
out Of the miscellaneous appropriation
column and made seperate items.
Thus the main items entering into
the 81, 095, 900 increased appropriations
were for buildings in the several state
institutions and the care of the insane
purposes which no broad minded
citizen can justly question. These in
creases alone amount to 81, 800, 900.
1t is gratifying to note that the ex
penses of the executive, legislative ant
; judicial part OF the state government
Z were actually less in 1898 than in lS9
or ls97-show that the increase in tax
alton has not been on account of tn,
machinery of the state itself.
! The state is growing rapidly and it
expenses necessarily increase. s.
long as the money thus raised by tax
alton is expended for public improve
Z ments the care of the unfortunate an
elevation of society, there can be n
just criticism.