The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-09-04
STATES BUDGET.
PROVIDES HEAVY.
STATE EXPENSES
Rise to Height Not Dreamed of
Few Years Ago; and Proba-
bly, Will Go Higher
TAX LEVY IS FIXED
New State Levy Is 100; Other
Forms of Taxation and
Valuation Raise Cut It

- Valuation Raise Cut 1t
Expenditures of the state of North
Dakota, during the biennial period
ending next July l, show a steady in
creasing cost in the state govern
ment.
A few years ago legislators figured
in thousands or hundred of thousands
of dollars. Now they figure in mil
lions. From biennial expenditures of
over $3,0OO,000 six years ago, the ex-
penses Of the state have jumped until
in the biennial period the state is
now in they will, according to Off
Gals estimates, reach around mil
lion dollars.
All of the money is raised by tax
alton. While the form of taxation
has been changed by the legislature,
the money must come out OF the pock :
cts of the people NJ North Dakota.
Indirect taxes are passed on to the
ultimate consumer who, if his taxes
are not increased, is bound to feel the
effect in increased cost of living.
Budget Estimates
The estimates for the biennial
period ending next July l estimated
that it is necessary to raise in the
neighborhood of $7,O00,000.
The state tax levy for 1921; which
was fixed by the state board of equal
ization, will raise a comparatively
small portion of the money. The tax
levy was fixed at 115O mills for the
general fund, sinking fund and inte-
rest fund, and rs for the soldiers
fund, making a total tax levy OF 100.
estimated to raise $2,S47 ,1S6.
The tax levy last year was 2.4l2o
mills. 1t was anticipated that the
levy ould be cut so per cent this
year, but estimated deficits of $41O,-
900 prevented this. The levy is based
on estimated valuation of property OF
$1,5OO,OO0. The valuation last year.
as nearly as can be figured by tax
officials, is $1,523,746,929.
Valuations Up
The state tax levy. has dropped
from about 4 mills four years ago to
the present figures. In the mean
time valuations have increased from
about $500,000,00O to $1,5O0, ,O0O.OO0.
The total amount of money raised by
the state tax levy, therefore, is sew
eral million dollars in excess of what
it was four or five years ago, in spite
of the added income and other taxes.
Money to run the state government
is derived from many taxing cources.
They include the new income tax,
which is estimated to yield the state
$5O0,O00 in the next year, the, inner
itance tax, incorporation tax, corpora
ton excise tax, oil tax, car line gross
earnings tax, and the fees and license
receipts, and the grain tax, which
yields but about $4,000.
Soldiers Fund Larger
The soldiers fund, which was large
enough to pay about per cent of the
soldiers their bonus, during the past
year, is increased from so to 10
mills. The tax yielded $761,S73 last
year and it is estimated it will yield
$1,125,O0O this year.
The deficits discovered by the state
officials which are estimated de-
ficits only at the end of the fiscal
year, July 1, 1920 are: state instltu-
tions, $21O,OOO; state departments,
$1O0; contingencies, 100000. pie =.
The state board of equalization, al
ter fixing the state tax levy, did not
adjourn, as it may be called upon to
euualize assessments in some counties
from which complete reports were
not available: r.
The states "balance sheet, which
was the basis for the fixing OF the
state levy, is as follows:
Credits
Cash on hand, July 1,
1919 ........... ."....9 1oo'oo'.AA
1918 taxes levied, not COL
lected; 1919 (allowing S
per cent deduction on
totaD
1913 taxes which will be
unpaid July 1, 1920 :. 2S3,4S6.4S
Miscellaneous collections,
July l, 1919 to July l,
1920, estimated as fol-
low:
Income tax ............. 5OO,3bo.I
Insurance 1-2 per cent
gross premium tax -. 22O,OOO.OG
DO portion) :. ..... 100000
Incorporation tax (sec.
Of state) :. 100000
1919 corporation excise
tax ($56,000 paid.
Probable amount which
will be collected from
railway co.'s under re-
assessment plan ordered
by U. S. supreme court
($60000) :. .......... llo,ooo'oo
Oil tax, July 1, 1919 to
July /, 1920 .......... 4OO,ooo.oo
tax 100000
erai FIN fund1 ~ w. 25o,ooOoo