Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-07-11
FIX OKLAHOMA TAX
LEVY AT I.5 MILLS
In Addition to This One
Half Mill Is Automat-
ically Levied.

Special to The World.
OKLAHOMA CITY. July 1O.-Hhe
state board of equalization has fixed
the tax levy for this year at The figure
frequently forecast. 1t is ] Il mills in
addition to the y mill tnat is auto
maucally levied. This is 1 y mills less
than the total of last year. 1t will
produce more revenue probably than
the state viii need, especially if the
revenues from production oi oil and
from incomes and other direct sources
shall bo equal to expectations and
reasonable estimates.
The boaJd declined to consider a
proposition made by J. l. Lyon, sec
rctary of state, To icvy p nlll fp
sinking funu with which to discharge
the bonded Indebtedness Of the state.
There is an issue Of Sl4tO,00O bonds
due serially for ten years, one-tenth
of the whole each year, beginning in
1918. There is also an issue of S3,U11,-
73l which Will not he due for several
years. 1t is the opinion Of the board
that a levy can not be made at this
time ror until an appropriation shall
have been made by the legislature, to
discharge the bonds
Wants Debt Discharged Now.
1t is Mr.. Lyons belief that the
bonds should be discharged now while
the state is receiving ncavy revenues
from production Of oil and other
sources that MY not hold up on the
other hand the argu nent is made
nat to levy at this time for amortlza-
ton OF this debt would exempt large
areas Of nontaNable school lands and
lands owned by Indians that viii later
reach the tax rolls and later levy
will reach all the people, whereas now
but part of them would participate
in tho payment.
The bonded Indebtedness of Okla
homa is very small as compared win
most Of the other states. But at thaN
it is far in excess Of the limitations
placed by the constitution upon in
dcbetedneSs of this character. This
is due to the fact that the first series
Of bonds was issued to care for the
obligations existing at the time the
state came into the union. The sec
ond issue was in pursuance of de-
cree of the supreme court that held
that outstanding warrant Indebtedness
constituted in fact bond against the
state.
There is an item of bonded indebt-
edness that swells the total for the
state to something in excess OF
$4,000. 900 in stead Of Sf500,OO0. That
is reall, not state debt at all, but
n charge against the public building
lands of the state in what is known
rs public building bonds or warrants.
The public building lands are assumed
70 be ample security for this debt
and il is not considered a chargc
against the taxpayers Of the state.
statistics Of school Taxes.
Fiscal affairs of the state Of Okla
homa with reference to the counties
and the recent taxes levy afford in
teresting material for deductions by
the figure sharps Of the state audi
tors office. 1t has been shown by
these experts, for instance, that the
counties with, many school children
and small taxable values are all re-
cciving more money from the com
mon school fund as represented by
school lands and invested moneys
than the people of those counties are
paving tc the support of the state in
the form Of taxes.
II is estimated that the per capita
apportionment Of school money this
wear will be $3.50. based upon scho-
lastic census. The wealthlest county
in Oklahoma is Oklahoma county,
ON the west side OF the state. Its
contribution this year for state pur-
poses will be S134.73S. OF this s20.-
O2O will be paid by public service
corporations Oklahoma county has
22,544 scholastics and will receive
from the state for schools s57.65S.
In this instance the private property
of the county will contribute to the
state S54.O6 more than the state
will pay for support Of the schools.
Distribution in Tulsa County.
Tulsa county. the wealthiest on the
east side will receive s46,607 from
the common school fund in return
for 390.777 contributed by the tax