The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1913-07-17
The Trouble With the
State Of Colorado
ALvA A. SWAIN

doubt wondering why the finances Of
the state are In such condition that
recently II was necessary for the
auditing board to issue a statement
stating that only 35 per cent OF second
class appropriations can be paid this
year, leaving 65 per cent OF the sec
ond class and all Of the third class
unpaid
A short study OF the financial con-
cition OF the state insofar as 1t per-
tains to the assessed valuation of
property and the expenses Of the state
government each year will show why
TIE present situation exists.
In 1907 the assessed valuation of
the property of the state was $685.
244,547. The legislative expense ap-
preparation for that year was si.222.-
1868. which is one-half of that bien-
nial period appropriation. In 1905
the assessed valuation was 1861. .345.-
2ls. with the legislative expense the
same as 1t was in 1907.
In 1909 the assessed valuation was
s375. 5.2s4.s70 with an expense OF 81
,66 .334.46.
In 1910 the assessed valuation was
$500 ,5o7 1890 with an expense the
same as 1903.
In 1911 the assessed valuation was
sl1s. s.s14.3ss. The appropriation this
year jumped to s2.174.422-5s. In isI.
ire assessed valuation was si2z.sss.-
525 with the legislative appropria-
tions the same as they were In 1911
The revenues failed to meet these ap-
rropriations and the state faced a de
felt OF approximately three-quarters
cf a million dollars
IL will tbs be seen that withir five
-ears the expenses OF running tie
s:ate government increased ss52.les.-
90. In reality the increase was du
ing the last three years. TIE state
expenses increased approximately
100000 a year under each OF the
last three years state ADMINISTRATION.
The assessed valuation ,f property
only lncreasrd ss6.194.sTs IN tie Eve
years. The state is entisl,., IT, ssIr
mills on every dollars wSr :, OF 4z
res sment. OF ais fyur mill twf. and
fcrr-twenty -firs-s mills gas 10 stair
/, st.iutions dill - leaving one and
seventeen -twenty-hrsts for general
4. venue. III. one and sesS.t. en-
twenty y-first mill xoui1 Cnly ne tie
state $4,000. The receipts in the
state treasurer's offIee from the Sec
retary OF State. the INSURANCE. depart
ment. the liquor license department
and the inheritance tax approximate
$500. 900 per year. These. plus the in
creased revenue to be derived through
the one and a quarter mill levy
against the Increased valuation to-
tails s5s0.0o0 which. deducted from the
increased annual expenses OF ss52.-
126.0o leaves an annual deficit Of
$685.
This is approximately the deficit OF
each OF the last three years.
The last legislature appropriated
80 sos. .2s2.s2. This is an annual ex-
pense OF si,752.siI4s. The last esti-
mate that has as yet been given for
the total receipts for this year was
made by State Auditor Kenehan when
he placed It at 81 1907 500. While this
years expenses are sf21.7s1.oe below
last years expenses. the estimated re-
ceipts are such that we are still over
quarter OF a million oyer-appropri-
ated.
The question naturally arises: Wheel
IS 1t going to stop? So long as oui
assembly oyer-appropriates our
known income over a quarter and a
half million dollars annually aud so
long as they place the over appropri-
alton in the first class or payroll de-
partinent. lust that long Will cur