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

message sent by Gov Philip to the
legislature reviewing the financial
condition of the state and the appro-
priations to be made by thiss 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
$2,93S,0O0. 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 ap-
preparations for next years work.
Against 1t are authorizations on ac-
count of this and previous years of
1851, 600, which, subject to legisla-
tive action, will be in force and un-
applied June 80. 1915 (SS97,OOO for
operations and s3,694,0O0 for i'm
provementsl. 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izations might be repealed.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 1897. 900 for operation; less
s114. 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, O00).
In this connection it will be inter-
esting to learn that during the fiscal
year now about to close, the expendi-
lures of the state government. in
GLIDING strictly agency transactions,
will be $13,896,5 500; the receipts
from all sources. s13,023, $50; al
ready an excess of expenditures over
receipts of ss27,55o.
For Working Fund.
Besides the s4,591,000 of unap-
Piled balances which includes So
$4,000 for Improvements, there is
contingent liability of from ST.
$685. to s3,0O0,000 of which
1887, 800 is now in litigation as paid
under protest by an insurance COM
pany for taxes the state may have to
pay back IL the courts decide against
the state in the suit now pending.
THE next year will begin, there
fore, unless the legislature enacts
otherwise, with certain liability of
$4,597, 900 because of previous years
authorizations besides a contingent
liability of $9S7,S actually in liti-
CATION, but even disregarding the
contingent liabilities, the cash bal
ance of $2,933,000 may mot be
counted upon to help us meet the GER
tain liability. This cash balance is
$872,550 less than the balance with
which the year 1914-15 began. The
state needs $4,000, 900 as a working
fund with which To begin each fiscal
over the first six months period be-
fore the bulk of taxes are paid in.
Even If you should vote to use the
cash balance as a partial Offset to
the liabilities Of 1915, you must an
ticipate conditions the next July and
vote $3,000,000 for treasury bal
ance with which to begin the second
year OF the biennium. Except as the
legislature by special act lapses un-
applied balances for operations and
repeats authorizations for improve
ments, there will be certain liabili-
ty of 1881. 900 in July, besides a
contingent liability of from s9S7,S00
to s2,5O0,0O0. Merging these liza
bilities in next years bookkeeping or
forgetting about them, or blinking
them, does not remove them. The OBJ