The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1920-12-24
Leastwise Budget Commission
viii Make Such Reconr .enda-
tion'to General Assembly.
COMPLAIN OF HIGH TAXES
In Solving Taxing Problems Perma-
hcnt improvements VIII BE
Foregonc Next Year-Win Re-
quire Levy or IA Mills On
Taxable Property.

COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec. 23.-The
state budget commission will recon-
mend an appropriation of approx
mately s7,Oo0,OoO for the operation
or the state government, its depart
ments and institutions for 1921.
Ih's VIII be a decrease OF about two
ana one-half million dollars from the
estimates submitted to it, which to-
tailed s9.S6S,2O6.59. THIS would
mean levy of approximately IA
miiis on valuation OF between S44S,-
100000 and $3.50, 900, 600 in tangible
property. as estimated by the state
tax commission. This levy, however,
could be reduced because of the mon
eysfrom other sources which mu.t
oe turned into the state Treasury un-
der the budget law.
II have not vet completed NV
Audy or our 1921 budget i'm all of
its details, stated Governor Coonor
chairman OF the commission TODAY,
"hen questioned relative to the fax
agitation In the state at present "bu,
VIII recommend reduction of an
proPriatfons from the wear 1a2O
with the exception OF the appropria-
ton for the public schools. am
satisfied further that with other rec
concentrations which will be submitt-
ed to the legislature, the lew of
1921 can, and will, be materially re-
duced. Iexpect to discuss this whole
question IN detail In my annual mes
&k&sTys~ = q
81 gwhile he has made no statement
VITO the effect,it is understood that
Jfhe governor WIZ ask the general
essemily TO propose a bond issue to
the people in a referendum cleo
s'tion, t. e issue to cover ten years
OF permanent improvements. The
& theory is that to arrive at an ade-
huate estimate OF the wants of the
ftate along permanent lines a com
mission OF engineers should be ap-
pointed to make thorough study OF
the wants OF each institution and ac-
tivity and report in detail to the leg
fslatiye bodies before the election is
ordered.
Along this line it can be authori-
tatively stated that the budget com
mission will turn It's face for any
appropriation for permanent ( i'm
provemepts for 1921, this, OF course.
including new buildings at state in
stitutionel of higher learning and
staterop4rated.. charitable and cor
F&Ibnal festivities.
FfT&eresA n cry throughout the
sfaM ~ the present time for relief
from the burdens of taxation. and
there have been many and various
remedies suggested. but most OF
them have been from the wrong an
gle. The general cry seems to he
that the burden is from the state
4 fEovernment. Even casual ANALYSIS
;.M the states finances shows that.
SHOULD all but purely governmental
functions acting for the people az a
whole. be eliminated. South Carolina
could be operated on about a one
mill levy, or $513,S77.16. using the
ngures for expenditures in. 1919, the
only ones available at this time. or
this amount. $288,296.41 Is for the
executive department, $155,295.
hfor the judiciary and $7O,285.41 for
Nhe legislative branch.
FThe fact OF the matter is that the
grsat birden for taxation is from
theNcounties, mostly in levies for
school purposes voted by the people
g }hemseHes, and from the munici-
Aes For instance. the city of
49, Itp pays 91-mill levy. the
III .tumbia, II 1-2 mills; the
" .S,snville, 81 mills and the
1T Ter so "a mills. or these
HSnc ills are for the state
perty In Charleston
@s.Ssn Sumter, s6,081,-
q q