The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-05-27
ECONOMY URGED IN
Philips MESSAGE
GOVERNOR GIVES WARNING TO
WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE ON
APPROPRIATIONS.
REVIEWS STATE FINANCE
Executive Makes Recommendations to
Lawmakers and Says Excessive
Grants VIII Compel Heavier
Property Taxation.


Property Taxation.
Madlson.-"Before you ever vote
upon another appropriation bill.
therefore, you start with present
authorization in excess OF special re-
ceipts which, II not diminished by
repeal, will require q property tax
OF s8,741,000. No action whatever
is required to compel this sum Of
$S.741,000 In the tax levy. To reduce
that levy will require specific action
by the legislature. In other words,
II amounts already appropriated are
not reduced by legislative action
every dollar that from now on Is vot-
ed for any purpose whatsoever, will
come out OF the property tax and
will be fixed in the tax levy by the
legislature before It adiourns"
This is the gist OF a 5000 word
message sent by Gov. Philip to the
legislature reviewing the financial
condition OF the state and the appro-
priations TO be made by this legisla-
ture.
Message of Governor.
The governor says in part:
"As the result OF an investigation
by able accountants covering a period
of nearly two months, ! am now able
to present to you such financial esti-
mates as the governor should be able
to give the legislature at the opening
OF the legislature. Careful estimates
indicate that at the close OF the fiscal
year June 80. 1915, the state treas
ury will have cash balance OF
$685. 900. Though called a cash
balance, It is not a free and unen-
numbered balance. A milestone OF
obligation hangs over It. This bal
ance is not available for reducing APP
propriations for next years work.
Against It are authorizations on ac-
count OF this and previous years OF
1851 900, which. subject to legisla-
tive action, will be in force and I'M
applied June 80, 1915 (s897,000 for
operations and s3,694,0O for i'm
provements). Some OF these author
izations might be repealed zone
million five hundred and forty-two
thousand dollars; others can be lap
sed at the end OF the year. such as
the $4,000 for operation; less
STA 900 balance In revolving funds;
others represent permanent improve
ment already begun which must be
paid for out OF next years tax levy,
$2,152.00O).
In this connection II VIII be inter
esting to learn that during the fiscal
year now about to close. the expendi-
lures OF the state government, in
Guiding strictly agency transactions.
will be s13,S96,500; the receipts
from all sources s13,O23.950; al
ready an excess Of expenditures over
receipts OF sS27,55O.
For Working Fund.
"Besides the s4,59l,OO0 OF unap-
piled balances which includes 49,
GA 900 for improvements. there Is
a contingent liability OF from 81
100000 to 100000 Of which
3987,S0O is now in litigation as paid
under protest by an insurance com
pany for taxes the state may have to
pay back II the courts decide against
the state in the suit now pending.
1.-THE next year will begin, there
fore. unless the legislature enacts
otherwise. with certain liability OF
a. r1T nm hac,ugn 90 prcvipug vaa ret
authorizations besides a contingent
liability OF $9S7.8OO actually in It'll
cation, but even disregarding the
contingent liabilities, the cash bal
once OF s2,933, 900 may not be
counted upon TO help US meet the GER
tein liability. This cash balance Is
S872,550 less than the balance with
which the year 1914-l5 began. The
state needs SO 900, 900 as a working
fund with which to begin each fiscal
year and without borrowing to tide
over the FIRST six months period be-
fore the bulk OF taxes are paid in.
Even II you should vote to use the
c4sh balance as a partial offset TO
the liabilities Of 1915, you must an
tlctpate conditions the next July and
votc $4,000, 600 for a treasury bal
e4ce with which 10 begin the second
year OF the biennium Except az the
legislature by special act lapses un-
applied balances for operations and
reoeals authorizations for improve
mcnts, there viii he a certain liabili-
~ Of $4.59l, 600 in July besides a
contingent liability % from S9S7,S00
20 $2.5O0,OO0 Merging these La
bEitIes in next years bookkeeping or
forgetting about them, or blinking
them, docs not remove them The OBJ