Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-05
DAHL HOSTS A
DANGER SIGNAL
POINTS OUT NEED OF CONSIDER.
ALTON OF STATES FINANCIAL
CONDITION.
DESIRABLE THAT EXPENSES 5E
KEPT WITHIN LIMIT OF
INCOME.
Madison, April %

always Interesting. but when it is
pointed out to the legislator and to the
taxpayer that the rate of income and
outgo prevailing in a commonwealth is
rapidly nearing the margin when the
latter Is likely TO become greater than
the former, then the attention is like
ly to become fixed ON the situation.
State Treasurer A. III. Dahl has nre-
pared resume of the financial condi-
ton of the state at the present time
brief survey Oh he past and a peep
into the future, the whole furnishing
a Wow OF the situation that compels
consideration. Mr.. Dahl also calls
attention to several proposed appro-
priation bills now pending before the
Legislature and offers the suggestion
that in considering them the Iegisla-
tors may wisely keep in view the eff
feet which their passage will have
upon the finances of the state.
The legislature is now confronted
with an unusually large number of
bills calling for appropriations for
various purposes. some of which are
necessary. some that are less import
ant to the well being and happiness Of
the general public and some that are
absolutely undesirable.
1t might be of interest to members
of the legislature and others to know
the conditions of the treasury at the
present time and also approximately
what the conditions will be at the
close of the year.
The disbursements have greatly ex-
ceeded the revenues of the state, the
past three years, The balance on
hand in all funds on January LIST, 1907,
was $20644 20.59; on January 1st,
1908, s92S.771.14; on January LIST,
1909. s742.391.
1t will be seen from the above, that
the balance on January LIST, 1908, was
$1,135, 649.45 less than on January
1st 1907, and the balance ON January
LIST, 1909, was 81 1922 ,029. SO less than
on January list, 1907 The balance in
the treasury today in call funds" is
81 ,674 .25395. the balance on the same
date last year was s2,26S. 3SS.S1, or
$594,134S6 more than this year for the
same date.
The receipts in 1908 from May / to
January. 1909, were s4,473,0841S and
the disbursements for the same period
were $5,979 592. 52-the disbursements
were S1,506. 50S.34 in excess of the rev
enues for the eight months; but we
had s2,26S,38S,St in the treasury on
April "A. 1908. and this left a balance
on hand January /. 1909, of s742. 1871
(the difference between 1851 .SS0.47 as
the above figures show, and SLABS
the actual figures is because of the
business transacted between April
a and May H. This year We have
only $l.674.253.95 on hand on April
"a if receipts and disbursements will
ance on January /. 1910, will be only
$167745.61. Taxes are not collected
before February 10. when the treasury
is replenished. The receipts for the
month Of January, 1909 We're $685.,
45l.31 while the disbursements for
the same month We're S5S1l95.96 or
$245.744.G5 in excess of receipts.
As the balance on January l, 1910,
viii be only sl67,745.6l and the dis
buysements in January will be $2.245.-
4 - -, rF nj Will
be shortage of ST. 999.04 on Fehru
AIRY next in all funds in the treas
urv.
These figures are based on receipts
and disbursements for 1908, but the
expenditures will be vastly greater
this year in some departments This
is legislative year and the eXpendi-
ture OF the publication Of the blue
books OF about $4,000 publishing
general laws OF $4,000 and other
printing bills connected with the
work OF the legislature will add ma
terial1y 10 these amounts The capt.
tai commission VIII eXpend from
5000 900 to S45o. 600 more during this
btlAtN tAAtt was tNptttttNA ittSk veal i
The expenses OF conducting the new
normal school from September toI
February / viii add another $4,000
TO the disbursemeuts--with these add
ed expenditures over last year we
may have a shortage on February !
next Of S50e.000 or more
Expenses are continually increasing
and instead OF increasing the reve
nues to meet the increased exrendi,I
lures. we find several bills now before
& he legislature, which &c enacted into
law. would materially reduce our
sources of income
A bill to allow counties 10 deduct
- per cent for collecting inheritance
taxes instead of per cent as the law
nov provides; 10 reduce the taxes Of
life insurance companies by approx.
mateiy SS50O0o per annun biz to
distribute part Of the railroad tax
10 the counties. are samples OF bills.
which il passed. would pave the way
for a state tax OF az least S4000.o00
annually or about az mills on Ioca1
Taxpayers are now hurdeued with
heavy school and local taxes VIVA,
would be the result Il a stare TAX Of
This amount Is addeds
2 wish tn call attention To these