The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-04-30
HIGH TAX LOCAL
SAYS GOVERNOR
OUT OF EVERY 500 COLLECTED
FROM TAXPAYERS STATE
SPENDS BUT $3.50
Counties Expend $39.47, Municipail-
ties $1,000, Public Schools take
$43.23, While $1.46 Takes Care OF
Bond Interest and Sinking Funds;
Revenue Last Year $22, Ills

E Of every 500 in taxes paid b.
property owners in Montana in 1919
$3.50 went to defray the expenses o
the state. OF the remaining S94.20
STAG went to the bond interest ant
sinking and livestock funds OF the
state; $39.47 was for the exclusive
use of the counties; $1,000 for the
exclusive use of the cities and towns
and $43.2S for education in the pub
lie schools. This latter item does not
include any money for the higher
educational institutions nor theii
maintenance or betterments at there
formatory or any of the elemosynary
institutions, they being cared for out
of the $3.50 contributed to the gen
eral fund of the state out of every
500 in taxes collected.
This information was contained in
the address made by Governor S. V,
Stewart before the Montana Stock
growers association at Billings, IN
which he went exhaustively into the
methods of taxation in Montana and
the uses to which the money is put.
Solons as Spenders.
One of the greatest difficulties the
state executives have had of late
years, according to information con-
tanned in Governor Stewards address,
is the fact that the appropriations by
the legislature have each year ex-
| ceeded the income of the state, the
appropriations amounting in 1919
alone to nearly million dollars more
than the states revenue from all
sources.
The purpose of Governor Stewards
address upon taxation was to dis
abuse the minds of large number of
people that the high taxes prevailing
generally are because of state expen-
ditures. The fact that the state gets
only $3.50 out of every 500 taxes
collected pretty we'll establishes the
fact that the taxes collected are spent
much closer to home than at the state
capital. Governor Stewards address
follows in part:
How Levies Are Made.
Ignorance prevails to such a de-
gree in Montana as to the proportion
of state to local taxes paid by tax
payers that an excessive levy for To-
cal purposes-such as streets, roads
or schools-which bring about a
marked increase in the taxpayers
burden, is most likely to be attribut-
ed to the state administration in gen.
eral and to the governor in partic-
ular. Ordinary justice entities the
people of Montana to know about |
their revenue systemic know the
truth for its own sake.
'Under our constitution and laws |
there are four distinct and entirely
separate authorities that determine
the amount of revenue to be raised.
Each of these authorities levies taxes
and each makes all the disburse-
ments from the revenue thus raised
to meet all of it's Obligations. Such
authorities are the legislature, boards
of county commissioners, city coun-
ellis and trustees of school districts.
Each of these authorities, according
10 regulations prescribed by law, may
and does levy taxes on all taxable
zeal and personal property in its juris-
1iction. The largest amount of taxes
paid is to support the common
schools with the counties, cities and
state following in the order named.
"In addition to the revenue thus
lCIlfOu ny QlI6CL tdAdLlOu, Lu6 6IdLC,
counties and cities may each impose
license taxes upon persons and cor (
)orations doing business within its ;
axing limits. II
"Thus all revenue for the support (
Ind maintenance of the state, of the |
counties and of cities and towns is b
derived from only two souces, viz:
taxation and license taxes. !
The revenue for the support and t
of the common schools Y
S derived from taxes upon property. {
''In addition to revenue derived /
rom taxation as stated, the state en- !
oys specific and substantial incomes 3
rom federal land grants for the sup i
,ort of the several higher educational I
The common school =
und also has a generous income from
is federal land grant. All money q
therefore, available for any specific (
II for all public purposes must and 6
oes come. from these revenues and a
Incomes. All incomes from the land (
rants are only for the purpose al e
owed by the federal government and t
annot be used for any other pur- I
oses whatsoever. They are practical s
Y and fundamentally exempt from v
ny state legislation or control be- d
ond what may be necessary to carry
ut the mandates of congress. This Il
rise precaution forever secures and %
uarantees to Montana great help o
4 the education of its youth. c
Revenue for All Purposes. n
'The total revenue derived from C
axation in Montana for all state, s
ounty, municipal and school pur- s
oses in 1918 was $21,508,087.72 in a
919 this total was $22,711, 525.24, v
n increase of $1,2O3, 437.52 or 5.56 a
er cent. II
''The percentage of these total
svenues levied in 1918 and 1919 by h
lie state for the general, bond inter- n
st and sinking and livestock funds, CT
nd by all counties, cities and towns Il
nd schools for their respective pur- n
Oses were as follows: 81
All state purposes: 1918 1919 II
eneral -------.-------------------.-- 1925 5.SU n
ond Int and Sinking 1.16 LILO b
livestock. ....-...... 1.O4 SO d