Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-11-04
NO STATE TAX THIS YEAR.
For the First Time Since 1884 a
Levy Is Found Unnecessary.
SCHOOL TAX is ALL.
But No Additional Funds Are Required
for State Institutions Besides
Amount Already on Hand.

For the first time III the history of the
state since 1884 no tax for the support
Or maintenance of the state government
Or any of the state institutions will be
levied this year. The condition Of the
state treasury is such that all charges
against it for the purposes OF the ad-
ministration of the government are am
ply provided for by the money on hand.
There was in the general fund on the
first day Of October $1,515, 701.O6. By
reason of this fact the governor, secre-
tary of state and state treasurer. by au-
thority of law, have been enabled to
wipe out the state TAX and relieve the
people of the state from it's burden.
From this it follows that the only tax
to be levied generally upon the people
of the state is that which is solely for
the benefit of the common schools.
Seven-tenths of mill on the state valua-
ton is directed by the statute to be
600 of the license moneys received by the
state from the railroads. This tax to be
paid by the people amounts to the sum of
81 OPT ,22O. It is true that in form it
might be called a state tax; in fact. it is
not so. 1t pertains in no way to the
expense of administering the state gov
eminent or any or lrs institutions. 1t
includes no part Of the large appropria-
tions to the state university and the
normal schools, nor OF the 100000 COM
ing to the free high schools, nor the
$4,000 to be paid to the graded schools
under appropriations of the last Legis-
lature. 1t is collected by the state not
for its benefit or use, but solely for the
support, maintenance and efficiency of
the common school system Of the state.
No part of it is to be expended for any
other purpose. 1t is collected for the
benefit of the schools and turned over to
the different counties of the state to be
TO the state university, the normal
schools, free high schools, graded schools,
and all of the institutions made by the
last Legislature are provided for and
discharged by moneys now on hand, or to
come to the treasury from other sources
than the people this year.
Apportionment to Counties.
Besides this, not only the sum collect
ed by this tax is paid over to the differ
ent counties for the support Of the COM
mon schools, but the counties will receive
in addition the sum of 1915, 1874, making
total to be paid by the state to the
counties for the support of the common
schools of s., 402 1854, as follows:
From the tax for common schools. 81 ,O27, 90
From the School neqS income fund G99s4
Total to be paid by the state
TO the counties ............$1 400, 384
This important action of the governor
secretary of state and state treasurer
has relieved the people of the state of
the burden Of a direct tax in the sum Of
S942,oO. Had not this action been tax
en-, this sum would have been collected
Of the taxpayers of the state by direct
taxation.
TO show what this means the taxpay-
ers Of Milwaukee county, which paid
into the state treasury for state taxes.
including its school taxes, last year $3.50
727.5O; this year it will only pay the
the school tax, and, as before said goes
directly back to the counties for the use
Of the common schools, and in the case
OF the great majority of the counties
with substantial addition.
IhlS great saving to the taxpayers has
been made without Gripping the state
treasury or the danger of creating any
deficit which would have to be met by
levylng tax in the future.
Adopt Resolutions.
The following is copy of the resolu-
1lon Wlplng out the state tax as adopted
by the governor the secretary of state
ana the state treasurer:
Whereas it appears that on the LIST day
or October, 1903, there was In the general
iuEd balance Of 81, 515, 7O1.O6, and
whereas, 1t Is estimated that there will
be balance in said general fund on Jan
uary j, 1904, of $3.50, 701. o. and
Whereas, it is estimated that the receipts
TO &C, o said general fund during 1904 will be
30, 6o3, 554.73, and
whereas, it Is estimated that the dis
bursements for all purposes for the year
1904 will be So, 644, 535. al, and
whereas, the entire state tax to be levied
Tor the ensuing year for interest on state
Indebtedness and to free high schools, and
to graded schools. support of the university,
support OF the normal schools, special uni
versity tax and capitol building fund
amount to the sum Of $942,57O and
whereas said sum Of $942, $40 can, with
out detriment to the public service, be
transferred from the general fund and APP
piled as state tax levy to discharge the
payment of the items above mentioned and
thereby obviate the necessity of a levy of
any state tax for such purposes now there
fore, be it
Resolved, that We, the undersigned, gov
ernor,. secretary Of state and state treas
urer, In pursuance Of section TO- 600 of the
Wisconsin statutes of 1898 do hereby trans