Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-10-31
REDUCTION IN
THE STATE TAX
Withdrawal of Large Sum
Made from State Golfers.
NEARLY A MILLION USED
Shrewd Foresight ON Part of Previous
Administration and Return of War
Loan Accounts for Surplus.

The state tax levy for the present
year was announced Thursday and
the amount of money to be raised
is 81, 027, 22O. Owing to the balance
in the general fund of the state
treasury, the governor, secretary
Of state and state treasurer, who
are the officers making this levy,
decided that instead of levying a
tax of 1859, 700, which will be
needed for various state purposes
during the coming year, they would
transfer $942, $40 from the general
fund and apply it as state tax
to these various purposes, leaving
only 81, O27, 22O for common school
purposes to be levied.
The balance in the general fund
in round numbers is 81, 100000. At
the beginning of the month it was
81, 515, 701.06. This large balance
is not due to any special economy
or thrift on the part of the present
administration, which can truth
fully be said to be more expensive
than any previous administration,
but is due to the war claim pay
ment of $498, 900 received from the
federal government last winter,
to the increase $4,000 in railroad
taxes this year, and to the increase
in revenues of the different de-
partments of the state government.
The present excellent condition
of the state treasury is largely due
to the keen business sense of
Former Gov. Scofeld, who levied
deficiency tax in order to place
the treasury in proper shape. Be
fore the deficiency tax was levied
the general fund was empty part
of each year and in order to tide
over this period it was necessary
to borrow money from the trust
fund.
The revenues of the general fund
come principally from the railroad
taxes, which this year amount in
round numbers to $1,000, 900.
These are paid in seni-annual in
stallments, one half in February
and the other half in August. Be
fore Gov. Scofield levied the de-
ficiency tax the general fund was
usually empty for a month or more
preceding the time of payment Of
these railroad taxes. The treasury
trouble really began during the
last democratic state administra
ton, which for political effect made
the tax levies smaller than they
should have been and the general
fund shortly afterward became
practically bankrupt.
The tax levy this year is simply
for common state expenses. The
purposes for which the levy has
been made in former years were
to pay in the interest on the state
debt and to aid the graded schools,
free high schools, normal schools,
and State university. Under the
law passed by the legislature last
winter the rate Of taxation for COM
mon schools, which previous to
that time had been one mill, was
cut to seven-tenths Of null, with
the further provision that 5000, 600
OF the tax should come out of the
general fund. There was spirited
contest in the legislature over the
matter, the representatives OF the
counties in the southern part of
the state, which annually pay the
fund more than they get back,
fighting for a low rate, while the
of the counties OF
the northern part Of the state,
which get back more than they
pay into the fund, fighting for a
high rate. The contestants COM
promised on the present law. The
total state aid for common schools
this year will be 81, 402, 934, which
is about $500, 900 less than it was
last year. In addition to the ST.
or, 22O to be raised by tax this
year, the fund will include 5000, 600
to be taken from the general fund
and $175, 1874 derived from fines
and other sources.
The total state tax last year was
50, 1926, GIG. In 1901 it was $2,557,
854. For half dozen years previ-