The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-21
Expenses During 1917 Broke
All Previous Records.
Startling Figures Shown by
State Auditors Statement.
PER CAPITA EXPENSE Is S4
Educational Institutions Con-
Sume Much of Revenue.
The Last Legislature Cost Tax
payers $sO,34S.9O.

Kansas state government cost near
ly six and a half million dollars in
1917, according to an astounding
statement today by Fred w. Knapp,
state auditor. Knapps statement
shows the high water mark in state
expenses. Revenues to the state thru
direct and indirect taxation and thru
fees amounted to $6,642, ,255-42. To-
tai expenses for state government dur
ing the year were Sc, ,440, 510 .47-or
$536,709.20 a month.
Slightly more than three and
half million dollars was raised by di-
rect taxation last year, while little
more than three millions were collect
ed by the state in indirect taxation and
fees. The total tax for state expenses
was s3,567 843.32, while the indirect
revenues were S3.074, 412.10. These
indirect revenues came thru the pay
ment of corporation and inheritance
taxes, insurance fees, institutional
fees, grain inspection, motor licenses
and other sources of state revenue
production.
Per Capita Expense 81.
With a population of 1,736,900. the
expense of state government amount
ed to a few cents less than 81 for
every man. woman and child in Kan
sas. This expense was in addition to
the city. county, school and township
taxation. The amount paid in direct
taxation was slightly more than 10
per cent of the total sum collected in
taxation in Kansas. Last year the to-
tai direct tax burden in this state was
IN the neighborhood of $34,00O,O0O
The net expense of state government
breaks all previous records, due large
ly to war prices and heavy expenses
for institutions. boards and commits
sions.
State educational institutions were
reSDOnSIh1R rIx Of
the expense of state government dur
ing the last year, Knapp shows OF
the expense of S6,44O, ,510.47, a total
of $2,525,776.59 went to educational
work. This included the cost for
maintenance and new buildings at the
big state schools, as we'll as state aid
for rural schools.
The 1917 legislative expense totalled
sS0,34S.90. The state house showed a
low expense item as compared with
the cost at the big state institutions.
The charge against the executive de-
partment for the twelve months was
S136, 6,676.33
Big Sums Went to Schools.
Charitable institutions and educa-
tional institutions spent more than SO
rer cent of the money raised for
state purposes In addition to the
s2,526,776.59 charged against educa-
tional purposes, a total of $1,013,674
was used for new buildings and main
tenance of state charitable institu-
tions. More than three-fourths of a
million dollars went for the penal in
stitutions. Their expense account for
the year was 1854, 4,436.02.
Boards, commissions and sundry
departments piled up an enormous
expense during the year. Knapps re-
port shows an expense for this pur-
pose os S1,127,304.6S.
The judiciary-supreme court and
n 7i-T-- -if1f Ind ~
fifth OF a million. The expense for
this branch of the state service was
$213, 3,3S3.11.
A total of s1s2,3o514 is charged
against printing. This includes new
equipment and materials for the state
printing plant as well as the labor
bills and cost of school book publica
ton In the distribution of schoo
book expense, however, Knapp charged
$176, ,494.53 against the state schoo
book commission. Credits from sale.
of books are included in the revenue.
fund.
Wealth of State 5 Billion.
For the support of patriotic insti
tutions, the state auditor charged
1852, ,S72.24.
The state automobile registration
department cost S3S,353.13 for the
year Miscellaneous items totallet
S17.885.S0.
j Kansas showed an assessed valua
! ton in 1917 of $3,075, ,62S. ac
cording to the returns of the count,
assessors. The estimated wealth O
the state is five billion dollars. Th.
state has no bonded indebtedness ant
the practically six and a half million
dollars spent during the last year die
not include a fund to retire bond O
cree te sinking funds. The money wa
used for current state expenses ant
to meet bills contracted by Legislative
: enactment.