Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-11-09
TAXATION RATE
IN NEW MEXICO
SCARS SkYWARO
Increase of Nearly so Per
Gent in Two Years Is Re-
ported by Director ASplund
Of State Commission,

@"se'As eo--tsrospsnes 20 SoSH,Hs JOURNAL
Santa I'e, Nov S.-Twenty dollars
Der capita is the amount of taxes not
aeluding federal levics that New
exico people are called upon to pay
turing the coming year, the total
mount to be raised for state, county
nnioiral and school mrloses. being
lose to $7,000,000. The bonded in
ebtedness of state and divisions
totals $50 per capita. Since 1914, the
expenditures for schools have in
reased 100 per cent and yet salaries
teachers are woefully inadequate
nj the rural schools are still far
rom what they should be despite the
manifest Improvement year by year.
Jot including appropriations and in
ONE from state institutions. the
'chools during the coming year will
ave an income of $1,000 900 or $50
per capita. For roads, the coming
ear win have more than four times
much available as there was IN
1914, total of $t,500,000 being pro-
'ded for the next twelve months. The
totals provided for general county
purposes have increased so per cent
n five years so that the total now is
'4l49996s1. Nun cipal leVies have
increased so per cent in one year. the
otal being $500, 550.35 against $3l4,-
i02.97 last year In two years. Cos
tie greatly increased assessment, the
AK rate has Increased nearly so per
ont. These were some figures given
asst evening by Director Rupert f,
tsplund of the New Mexico TaXpay-
re ASSOCIATION to a group of earnest
and Thoughtful men last evening who
adhered at the new Museum to study
be revenue situation after the war
Eve years ago, the focal tax burden
IN each dollar of property was IL
Mills, tho coming year 1t Will he Is Ia
mills The tax production of the
coming year in the state, not, consid-
ering federal taxes. will be SR.964,-
546.70, an increase of 10 per cent over
the present year. In Santa Fe CITY
aXpayers will he called upon to pay
! two and a half cents upon the dollar
| and that despite the fact that other
! sources of revenue are constantly
| growing, There Is one nun cipalitv
| n New Mexico whose taxpayers must
| nay over four cents on the dollar
We are spending more than $50 a
year for every man, woman and child
! However, New MoXico's total assessed
valuation is only 1881, 100000, that Of
the neighboring state of Arizona Is
! $3.50 600 900, Of which however, min
ing property constitutes $3.50 100000.
Put even after deduct'ng the mines,
! Arizona has a higher valuation than
the, much richer state Of New Mexico.
Mr.. fspluni draws the following
conclusion: "Our problem consists OF
determining what our real needs are
1nd of providing for them, not Law
ishly or WastefullY but adequately
ard sensiblv in such a way that each
! 7hall contribute his share in proper
ION to his ability In governmental
as well as individual economy, there
ia needed a careful watch over ex-
penditures as we'll as an effort to
! make the income cover the require
ments. Having first investigated the
needs, the means to meet them must
be sought at the least poss BILE burden
to the individual citizen. If our valu-
atoms are unequal we should equalize
hem. II. any class of property is es-
Gaping its proportion of the tax il
,hould I'VE made to contribute its
hare. If any individual enjoys the
advantages of government without
adequately paving for the same eth
~ by escaping proper assessment or
by failing to pay the tax when as
sessed, he should be required to pay
his full share, in all fairness to his
"ellow taxpayers While increasing
our income, or waiting for 1t TO in
crease, our concern must be to avoid
Extravaganza and carelessness In pub
tic expenditures if these eiist and tc
make such adjustment as will elinin-
ate unnecessary expenditures in order
that legitimate requirements may he
properly met"
The discussion that followed was
illumining, especially the comparison
IF TAXATION methods in Italy, Mexico
| Frame and Germany. The subject OF
combining idealisn with pract'ca
business methods in government was
. sounded and expounded by the score
or so business and professional mer
present end as result, they all have
a much clearer understanding of New
NeXico's revenue problems,
l-
I klTlbIDT n D\/Io TAN