The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-02-14
Auditor Howard Issues Statement Explain
ing Increase in Taxes; New Build
ings for Eleemosynary Institu-
lions Figure Largely in II
LESS MONEY FOR
CURRENT EXPENSES
No Surplus Left from Preceding Year;
Growth Of Institutions is Shown, Re-
SUI ing in Necessity for Larger
Cost Of Maintenance

OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 14.-Stase
Auditor f. b Howard, in response TO
many requests, has prepared a state
ment explaining the factors that en-
ter into the higher tax rate Of this
year. The statement is in part as
follows:
AS to the 1915 assessment, when
the present board OF equalization be-
gan to make the assessment they
round that the 1915 legislature had
made appropriations for deficiencies
which had to be covered by the tax
levy this year. Of sl,466.6S1ss, and
shat to this there must be added the
20 per cent for delinquent taxes, max
ing a total Of ST ,76G,0i7 in deficien
eies that levy was necessary te
cover. However, we found that there
were estimated cash receipts that
conld he charged against this in the
amount Of s572. .S53.27. after the deduc-
ton Of which left a net deficiency levy
for the year 1915 of sl,lS7,lg4.33. This
amount, while treated as a deficiency
appropriation by reason OF beins
desissesa by the Legislature for the
year ending June 80. 1915. was in
reality an appropriation covering ex
pendltures made for the purpose .,
building new buildings at the Okla
liomG hospital for the insane ct Sup.
ply, for purchasing the hospitals for
insane at Norman, buildings at the
East Oklahoma hospital for insane al
Ninitia. for buildings at the feeble
minded institute at Enid. buildings al
the blind school at Muskogee. build
ings at the deaf and dumb school at
Sulphur. improvements, etc, at the
Oklahoma state penitentiary and re
formatory and for the permanent i'm
provements at the different educa'
tionaI and eleemosynary institutions.
including buildings at the university
,at Norman and the central state nor
NAL school al Edmond.
After finding the levy necessary
to cover these deficiencies to be
mil we found that for state expenses
for the current fiscal year 1915 the
legislature had appropriated S2,soi'
Ts5.l7, which it win be noted is about
$4,000 less money for expenses for
the year 1916 than was appropriated
for the year 1915. The board how
ever. found It necessary to add the
% nor cent for delinquents. which
made a total tc be raised for this cur
rent year Of ss.4Ss.342.2o. MAKING
an estimate OF s1,l15,OiS.54 as an in
como from sources other than ad
valorem taxes, this leaves the sum
of S2.374.3zS.s6 to be raised by an au
yalorem tax levy. which upon an as
sessed valuation Of the state OF 81
187l64.s2S. it will be found that It
was necessary TO make mil lev!
IN raise this amount. The difference
therefore. III the levy Of 1915 ana c'
1915 being that while there was less
money appropriated for current state
oxpenses. the state board of equaliza
lion did not have the si,216.llSsd
surplus to fall back upon, as was 'ne
case for the former year. Consequent
ly it was necessary to make higne'
levy to meet the expenses as per the
appropriations.
"In addition to this. the last ies's
lature passed highway law when rs
quires that the state board OF equail.
yation make a levy of one-fourth inip
for highways This was a new s'a.7
levy. but is in no way used for tah-
ing care Of any state expenditures inc
law providing that all of 1t snaii "
returned TO the counties from Wnioh
IL came. I. will be seen from the lore
einr that had it not been necess"i'
for the legislature to build ouilalnss
and make the improvements for wnicn
appropriat;ons were made, ana nau
the hoard of equalization had the sur
plus referred to. it would not have
aeen necessary TO have made a 'aN
levy for 1916 any higher than TINS one
for 1915.