Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-05-07

AAOS Neta0 LAS oecu Nelu4[ h6U1e
During the Early Years Of
This State.
Much has been printed in the news.
papers of the state during the past
three or four years concerning the
increase in the taxes in North Dakota.
Much speculation has been INDUCED
in by various newspaper writer's and
editors as to the responsibility for
this increase. That there has been
such an increase is admitted even by
the most casual observer of current
affairs, but as to the cause responsible
for the increase there is a marked
difference Of opinion. When there is
a marked increase in the tax bills for
any year, the average property own
er at once turns his attention to the
state government and seeks there for
the cause of the increased tax burden.
The state government operates in the
white light of publicity-every news
paper of statewide circulation and
many local papers are at great pains
and expense to obtain information con-
cerning the conduct of the state gov
ernment, while the local subdivisions,
the counties, cities, townships and
school districts, operate with very lit
tie attention being paid to their af-
fairs. Not only do the newspapers
often fail to obtain the simplest in
formation concerning local subdivis-
ions, but even the most aggressive and
wide-awake citizen, does not endeav-
or to inform himself concerning local
matters.
That the tax burden in North Da-
kOta has increased with considerable
rapidity is indicated by the following
compilation which contains the total
tax for. all purposes, state and local,
for the years indicated: r ,s5 f,ss.s
Total Tax for
L.sg q. All Purposes State Tax
Year State and Local Levy
1890 ,.......t..$ 2,336,540 $ 427,629
1918 ......... 12,SSS,S53 1,365,91S
1914 ......... 13, ,9s7,476 1925, ,167
1915 15,86O,l32 1,611,639
While it is of interest to note the
total tax levy in 1890 was $2,336.54O
and that by 1915 it had increased to
$15,S60,132 and that the total increase
during this period of twenty-three
years was 413 per cent, yet when We
consider the increase during the past
three years, from 1913 to 1915 inclus-
i've. we find that it amounts to but
80 mills. In other words, during the
twenty.three years prior to 1918, the
average increase in the total tax bur-
den of the state since statehood was
Is per. cent, while during the past
three years it has been but 1917 per
cent. t.o-
While it is also interesting to note
that the state tax increased from
1927, ,629 in 1890 to 1888, ,462 in 1912,
or 212 per cent, and during the past
three years it has increased to ST.
GIL ,639 or.21 per cent In other words
during the twenty-three years of
statehood to December 31st, 1912,
there was an average increase per
year in the taxes levied for state pur-
poses of .9.2 per cent, while during
the past three years from December
@1st, 1912 to December 31st, 1915,
there was an average increase per
year in the taxes levied for state gov
ernment of per cent.
That the portion of taxes paid for
state purposes, show a constant de-
crease as compared with the taxt6
paid for all purposes is indicated by
the fact that in 1890, 17.16 per cent
of all taxes paid for all purposes were
paid for state purposes Five years
later it was Is per cent; in 1890 it
was almost 16 per cent; in 1905 it was
14.54 per cent; in 1910 it was 1926
per cent; in,1912 it was Hip per cent;
in 1913 it was 1850 per cent; in 1914
it was 9.47 per cent. and in 1915 it
was 1916 per cent. 1t will be observ-
ed that during the past three years
the portion of all taxes used for state
purposes was less than at any time
during statehood. The lowest year
being that of 1914.
The rate of levy for all purposes,
state, county, city, school and town
ship, has increased from 262 mills in
1890 to 42.3 mills in 1915, while the
total valuation of the state has in
creased from $SS,S96,291 in 1890 to
1914, 799y yovr in 1915. Turning to the
state levy we find an entirely different
tale. In 1890 the state levy was As
mills, while in 1915 it was 4.3 mills.
1t is also to be noted that the years
1914 and 1915 we're the only times
in the history of the state when a
legal state levy has been made. All
other years except 1892 the levy has
been in excess of the limit fixed by
the constitution.
The general fund out of which is
paid the current expenses of the state
government tells the same story. We
begun statehood with levy for the
general fund of 4 mills. In 1913 we
reached the low point in the history
of the state being 2JS75 mills. while
for the years 1914 and 1915 it was 3
mills.
Even casual examination of these
Continued On Page Ski