Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-02-15
Changes In Laws Affecting Towns.


Changes In Laws Affecting Towns.
The legislature last winter stirred the
statutes up considerably, and made
good many changes which affect the re-
latious of the towns and the state in one
way or another. Our town meetings
will shortly be here, and it is well to
look at few of the things done by the
legislature, because very few have been
able to grasp the full significance of all
there was in the large volume issued as
the result of the legislative session OF
1909.
much of the remodeling of statutes was
due to a desire TO make the wild lands
pay more nearly proportional part OF
the general expenses than was possible
under existing conditions. To accom-
plish this conStitutionally was problem
on which much thought was expended.
The method which was finally adopted
included one feature of which legisla-
lures have generally fought shy, namely,
an increase in the, state tax rate. But
as that seemed TO be the best prac,
ticable way to get at it, the tax rate was
raised, thus levying larger sum upon
the wild lands as well as all the other
property of the state, and number OF
changes were made so that the state
should return to the towns in various
ways larger proportion of the tax col
lected than before.
For some years, including the past
year, the rate of the state tax has been
three per cent. For 1910 it is five per
cent. This will mean, for instance, that
Paris paid a state tax in 1909 of 81 ,465 .93,
but in 1910 it will pay 81, 437 IL, or al
most three thousand dollars more. The
same ratio of increase applies to all the
towns.
This increase is returned to the towns
in a number of ways, more of 1t in
school money than in any other way.
The "mill tax" as ii formerly was, for
the common school fund, is now mill
and half, and instead of being distrib
uted as formerly on the sole basis of the
school population, One-third of 1t is APP
portioned on that basis, and the other
twO-thirds on the basis of valuation of
the towns. Results thus produced vary
somewhat in the several towns. IN
Paris the effect will be that the town
will receive from the state for common
school purposes in 1910 about S2400
more than in 1909. At the same time,
the amount which the town must APP
propriate for common schools was re-
stored to the former rate Of not less than
50 cents per inhabitant.
In the matter of high schools, the aid
which a town may receive from the
state is increased from $3.50 to $500.
Beginning Jan. l, 1910. insane pauperS
are supported by the state instead of by
the towns The remark may be thrown
in here incidentally, not as Information
but as comment, that the probable effect
of this will be some increase of insanity
in the state.
In the town of Paris, as an illustration,
the increase of the state tax and the
increased amounts returned by the state
to the town in these various ways will
be approximately equal, though with
out going into the matter carefully 1t
looks as if the balance this year, as COM
pared with last year, would be slightly
against the town.
There have also been some changes
made in the state road law, which modi-
fy the effect of it somewhat, and at
least make it less complicated. The
provision for setting aside a small per-
centage of the regular road appropria-
ton for permanent road improvements
is repealed, and the state aid for state
road now depends upon the direct APP
preparation made by the town for that
purpose. The amount 10 be appropriate
ed ty the town which the state will
match varies on sliding scale according
to the population of the town. In the
larger number of the Oxford County
towns the amount which may be raised
in this way by the town is $500. Iu the
town of Paris it is 5000, and in few of
the small towns it is only 800.
The amount which the state will put
with this varies from two dollars for
every dollar raised in the smaller towns
to seventy-five cents for every dollar
raised in the large towns and cities. In
towns having a valuation of less than
500, 900, any sum up to 5000 may be
raised, and for every dollar the state will
apportion two dollars. In towns having
between 500, 900 and $500, 900 valuation
and this includes the larger number of
thsr towns in Oxford County-any sum
up to $500 may be raised, and the state
will apportion dollar for every dollar
raised. In Paris the town may raise up
to 5000, and the state will apportion so
cents for every dollar raised by the
town.
There is of course nothing to prevent
towns raising larger amounts than those
named for state road work, but the state
aid will be spportioned only on the
amounts as specified in the law In Paris,
for instance, if the town appropriates
5000 for state road work, il will receive
from the state $3.50, and if it raises $1,000
it will receive no more.
There may be other changes in the
laws which the voters should consider
before transacting their business at their
annual meetings, but those noted are
some of the most important.