El Nuevo mexicano., 1916-07-27
INSTITUTION FUNDS
SAFER in HANDS Of
STATE AUDITOR, VIEW
DIRECTOR or TAXPAYERS Asso-
CITATION AGAINST INDEPEND-
EMIT HANDLING OF FUNDS;
GIVES COMPLETE LEvIES OF
1915

In the July number of the New Mex
leo Tax Review, issued today, Direc-
tor A. e. James, of the State Taxpay-
ers' association, gives the first com
plete statement Of all New Mexico tax
levies Of 1915 and furnishes the
foundation for a complete statistical
and comparative record of all classes
OF tax levies for the years to come.
A partial review of the 1915 leyies
was made by Mr.. James in the first
issue of the Tax Review in February.
At that time, however, all the levies
had not been finally certified or ap.
proved by the state tax commission
and the new mine tax was not avail
able. In the present statement every
thing Is included and the statistics
show among other things that the
Taxpayers association, cooperating
with county taxing officials and the
state tax commission, effected reduc-
tons from original leyies in twenty
one Of the twenty-six counties, rang.
ing from 13 cents in Dona Ana county,
to- $4,000 in Grant county and reach
ing q total saving effected of $343,-
286.73. The article is accompanied
by an interesting analysis of the lew
les in their relation to the new tax
laws, the whole forming a strong ar
gument for q state budget system and
limitations on taxation expressed in
ether than terms of mills. The arti-
Gle is one of permanent Importance
and value to every man who wishes
to be thoroughly and accurately In
formed upon actual present day tax
levy conditions in this state. 1t is the
first complete statement of the kind
that has ever been assembled in New
Mexico, and will be increasingly val
liable as an available basis for future
comparison in levy making. 1t is
shown that New Mexico municipalities
have scored an actual reduction
of about $4,000 but for Raton's radi-
cal increase Of $4,000 in its city tax
requirement.
Another article in the July Review
deals with the financial status Of state
Institutions other than educational
which do not receive and disburse funds
direct through the state auditor and
treasurer but which have their own
disbursing system. These include the
insane asylum, reform school, miners
hospital, deaf and dumb and blind
and the. article shows that
not only are all operating on very
close cash balances, but that several
have violated sections 5158 and $3.50
Of the laws prohibiting state officers
DR. institutions to borrow money In ex-
of appropriations, or otherwise
10 use the credit of the state without
specific authority from the governor.
t is held that the accounting systems
If these institutions are inadequate
Ind incomplete. that the system of
separate accounting and payment 9TH
n than through the state auditor
makes any complete statement diff
nit and that funds will be safer in
he state treasury and paid only by
auditors warrant, "as the ~9gricultur-
i College difficulty abundantly dem
'nstrates." Director James reviews
lis urgent recommendation, made sew
raj months ago in the case of state
Ulcers and boards handling funds in
Iependently of the states disbursing
Ulcers, that all funds be kept in the
tate treasury and subject to payment
My by auditors warrant.
The July Tax Review contains a
aluable reprint Of an article Ready
in State Budget Making" by
William H. Allen, in the National Tax
ssociation bulletin, and concludes
nth the sixth article by Mr.. James
n the theory of public finance, EMIT
why Bother with Theory" and
the value of sound theory in
tactical tax administration.