The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-08
For the Good of
the Community

TT may be interesting to the citizens of
N Alabama to know just what their tax
bill IN 1920 and the next three succeeding
years will be in the event the general rev.
enue bill now pending in the senate at
Montgomery is enacted into law
The bill, as originally drawn, would
have raised approximately $4,000, 900,
according to estimates of the budget COM
mittee. Other estimates, based on known
incomes in Alabama in 1918, indicated to-
tai annual revenues Of between S14,-
100000 and S16,OO0,O0O, the exact
amount being impossible of ascertain
ment on account of the uncertainty as to
the personal and corporate incomes in
1919, 1920, 1921 and 1922.
In addition to the general revenues the
special three-mill school tax, permitted
under laws enacted in 1915, have been
levied in all but one county of the state
and that county will vote upon the ques-
ton within short time.
The total assessed value of all property
in the state in 1917-1918, according to
the state auditors report, approximates
$7000O0,000, falling only few thousand
dollars under that vast aggregate. The
annual increase in value is close to $780,
100000. On this valuation the special
tax at three mills will yield about ST.
100000.
The budget committees estimate of
$1O,529, 264, plus the special school tax
Of 81, 100000, makes a grand total of
$12, 1929, 264. Assuming that the budget
committees estimate is approximately
the sum that will be realized under the
general revenue bill, the total tax to be
paid by the citizens of Alabama in 1920
and in each Of the next three succeeding
: years will be over twelve and quarter
million dollars and for the four-year pc
Rod little over 100000.
The general revenue bill was amended
in number of important particulars in
the house, and basing the estimated rev.
enues hereunder, provided the house
amendments are accepted, will be about
S1,000,O00 less than the budget commit
tees estimate, or around 50, 500, 900. To
this add the three-mill school tax of ST.
100000 and the total will be about SILL
100000, or over SAG, 100000 for the four
year period.
1t is more than likely however, that the income
tax receipts will largely exceed the committees
estimate, and if it approaches the estimates based
on figures given the ways, means and appropria-
tons committee by Internal Revenue Collector
John D. McNeel the total collections in each of
the four years prior to the next legislature will
run between S13,000,000 and S14,00O,O0O, or a
total four-year collection closely approximating
$55,OO0,OOO.
How will this enormous sum of money be spent?
Here is the programme laid down by the budget
committee, which has the Endorsement of Cover
nor Kilby:
Schools exclusive Of the 3-mll tax, 81 1923, 531.
With the 3-rnill tax added the total school fund.-
exclusive of special appropriations made by mu-
inequalities, will be about Sc 100000. OF the gen
eral appropriations the elementary schools will
get $2,890,500, to which add 81, 100000 raised
under the special 3-mill tax, and grand total of
$4,990,500 is given. In other words the elemen-
tary public schools of the state will have about
S5,000,000 year for their operating expenses
during the next four years
The balance of the school fund, S. 039 031, will
go to the normal schools, the agricultural Schools
the University of Alabama, Auburn, Montevallo,
schools for the deaf and blind, Boys Industrial
school, reform schools and for the maintenance
and operation of the department Of education
The remainder of the general revenues will go
to defray the expenses of maintaining the depart
ments at Montgomery, the Judiciary the convicts,
the asylum for the insane PENSIONS national
and miscellaneous Institutions commissions and
administrative departments.
A person looking over the statements of receipts
and, disbursements would not class Alabama as
MAO cto1o III 49, >sO14l l..