The Topeka state journal., 1919-07-18
Increase in Levy Must Be Made
This Year.
That Is Statement Made by
State House Officials.
COST OF EVERYTHING HIGHER
Howe Declines To Say What
Increase VIII Be.
Levy in 1917 Was Highest Ever
Made in State.

With the increased cost of bread and
jam, Kansas must brace ner feet for
an increase in the state tax levy
maybe the highest levy the state has
known. While no announcement has
the state house dope today points to a
big jump in the state levy when valu-
alton returns are announced July 81.
Last year the state tax commission
reduced the levy .23 mills. But this
year the pendulum threatens to swing
back The 1917 levy was 1.40 mills.
Last year it dropped to III. De-
mandsfor state funds tho, threaten a
big increase this year.
All Are Going Up.
Practically all tax Ievies are going
straight up. according to reports be-
ing received in Topeka. There was
little on the Kansas farm in the way
of reserve stocks when the assessors
made their annual visits in March.
War prices had reduced grain sup
plies to the minimum and livestock
had gone to the markets until there
were few large herds in the state.
Consequently valuations may not show
the big increase which many people
expected.
There is no uncertainty. tho, as to
the money which is needed for public
purposes. These budgets are already
made up and only in rare instances
have increases in local levies been
sidestepped. Many counties cities
and school districts have provided for
new buildings. Road building and
paving expenses are high. Salaries
have been boosted in many instances
and the high cost of transportation
materials and supplies have added to
the necessary expenses.
Legislative Expenditures.
The recent session of the state legis-
lature provided for expenditures OF
$14 100000 during the next biennum
1t was the heaviest expense ever voted
on the state by a Kansas legislature
In the main, tho, the extra expense
was made necessary by increased costs
of supplies and materials. The salary
| increase affected the general boost
but was a small item when compared
with the total jump in appropriations
| Except in cases where institutional
! and departmental fees can be used, the
| bulk of the $14,000,000 must be raised
during the next two years from direct
| taxation.
Samuel T. Howe, chairman of the
state tax commission, today declined
| to discuss the probable stopping point
| in making the 1919 state levy. He
was also non-committal regarding the
probable action of the commission.
| been completed" said the state COM
mission chairman, "and it is impos-
sible to make a forecast until thi;
matter is disposed Of"
Set New High Record.
State officials and employees who
are familiar with the work of fixing
I levies are generally agreed, however
that the 1919 state levy will set a new
altitude record. The state levy mus
be certified to county boards by
August l in order that the work OF
fixing local levies may be completed
in the time provided by law There
is much hard work ahead of the STATE
| commission in the next ten DAYS II
order that the task may be completed
on time.
The levy of lao mills fixed by tn,
state commission in 1917 was tn,
! highest the state has ever known il
Kansas. By reducing the levy to IL
mills last year, the state commission
| succeeded in bringing the levy below
the 1.20 point which has been tn,
minimum during a period of seven Of
eight years.