Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-05-26

legations are there and require legs
lative action either lapsing, repeal or
tax levy.
In Property Tax.
When reviewing each of these
authorizations and expected balances
will you have in mind that all
amounts which you do not lapse or
repeal viii have to be included IN a
general property tax for next year.
If the state expenditures were
kept within revenues other than gem
eral property taxes. the only general
property tax needed would be So
$4,000 for the common schools
which the state collects merely to
distribute again in appropriations to
school population. II on the other
hand. all estimates in the budgets for
operation and improvements should
be provided for, a property tax of
s6.5O7,000 would be needed next
year besides common school of ST.
$4,000, or a total of $8,645, 600.
This would be 100000 larger
than the largest previous property
tax ever raised in this state (1914)
and even then would not provide for
that part of estimated unapplied au-
thorizations not included in TIE
above estimates which the legislature
may not lapse or repeal as of June,
1915, nor would it provide for the
contingent liability above mention
ed"
The governor spends nearly one
third of his message discussing the
methods by which appropriations are
levied. He says in recent years the
method of handling state finances
has gone far afeld He asks that the
bad practice of the past shall be ut-
terly abandoned.
Plan Offered by Governor.
Following is his recommendation:
Make an estimate of the deficiency
in ordinary revenues to meet ex-
penses to be paid out of appropria-
tions for each of the succeeding two
fiscal years; and thereto any def
cheney for the preceding years: and,
by bill, levy state tax TO cover the
total. No other state tax will meet
with my approval or will be made by
my consent.
The governor points out that al
though extensive improvements were
authorized by the last legislature ag-
gregating s1.542,O00, none of this
money was included in the tax levy.
These authorized but temporarily ar
rested improvements included:
s225,O00 agricultural board state
fair buildings.
100000 forestry investment fund.
100000 land department for re-
serve.
$4,000 Merrimac bridge.
$4,000 trade school Operation
never charged against).
$4,000 administration building,
Milwaukee.
$17,5oO Madison street improve
ments.
$4,000 La Crosse normal.
100000 normal dormitories.
$350.000 university, mems dormi-
tory and union.
100000 university physics build
ing.
$4,000 university liberal arts
building.
s5s,000 university soils building.
$4,000 shop building.
$4,000 university new building
$4,000 university Lincoln statue.
Subject to Repeal.
These appropriations, he pointed
out, are subject to repeal.
The governor, in conclusion, asks
that appropriations so far as possible
be made in separate bills. This, he
says, will give him an opportunity to
consider each bill in It's relation to
all other bills and to the state pro-
gram as a whole. He points out that
there are many thousands of dollars
in appropriations for improvements
to be made after July 1, 1915. He
suggests that the legislature immedi-
ately review to see whether any of
the following appropriations may be
without injury to the state
work:
$4,000 forestry investment fund
$4,000 land department.
$4,000 county agricultural build
ing-no construction contemplated,
but authorization In force.
100000 highway bridges.
$4,000 board of control land.
$4,000 southern Wisconsin home
for feeble-minded which will carry
a balance OF $4,000 for improve
ments.
$4,000 Eau Claire normal, avail
able March 1. 1916.
$4,000 university land contracts.
In the senate the governors mes
sage was referred to the finance com
mittee and will be spread upon the
journal.