The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-29
RAISED TWENTY-FOUR MILLS.
DIG JUMP IN RATE of STATE TAX
OVER 1900.

Governor and Controller General
Fix the Rate Mt $5.44 Fer 81 900
This Is an Increase of "a Cents Per
$1,000 over Last Year and the
Maximum Rate That the Law Al
Observation-Disclosures Heavy ApprO-
priatiOns Caused Trouble.
Atlanta, Aug. 2S.-Gov. Gambler and
Controller Geenral w. A. Wright. in
accordance with an act of the general
assembly to-day. fixed the state tax
rate at $544 on $1,000, the highest rate
that could be fixed under the law
passed by the general assembly The
rate last year was $500 per $1,000.
The order directs that 81 mills on the
dollar be collected for general purposes.
81 mills for the common school fund,
and "a mills for the sinking fund,
making a total of 544 mills on the dol
lar.
Notwithstanding this increase in the
tax rate and with nearly twenty-four
millions more taxable property in sight
than last year, it is said there will still
be a deficit in the treasury of about
$3.50, 900. This condition of affairs was
brought about by the large extra appro-
priations made by the Legislature last
year, and by the loan of $4,000 which
Gov. Gambler had to negotiate to pay
the school teachers, because he was
unable to make temporary use of the
public property fund. The states total
income from all sources, with the tax
e HurNfr
while the total expenditures will be
SO. .494, If they are all met as they
fall due.
Controller General Wright, when
asked about the financial condition OF
the state said to-day:
1.-The state will have to meet a de-
felt of 1855, 900 on account of the over
appropriation by the last General AS
sembly. The Governor and myself
have been forced to fix the rate at the
highest possible figure allowed by the
law in order to raise all the revenue
we can get to meet the appropriations,
but with these and the increase in tax
able property for the year, which is
approximately 22,0000 900, the state
cannot meet all the demands upon 1t
this year by 1856 000.'
Governor Gambler, notwithstanding
the apparently bad showing which the
finances are IN, SAID this morning.
THE credit of the state was never
better, the financial condition of the
state was never so good, the property
in the state is increasing in value and
the situation is not only not alarming,
but is, on the contrary altogether
satisfactory.
THE whole trouble is that the Leg
islature, at it's last session, just incon-
siderately appropriated $l56,000 more
than we will be. able TO raise by this
years taxes, and ] have been forced
to borrow $780, 900 to meet current ex-
penses.
When the Legislature meets in Oc-
tober it can provide for making up this
shortage by cutting down appropria-
tons from some other source. l do
not know from what department this
money can be taken. but the Finance
Committee can fnd where il is to come
from. u ~
Next year l can borrow another
5000, 900 to meet the $200,000 borrowed
a few months ago, and 1 think this will
suffice until the state can pay back
this amount.
THAT will leave the Legislature but
$156, 900 TO provide for
81 shall not make any recommends
tions to the General Assembly as to
what that body should do, but will
probably only call attention to the fact
that the shortage exists