The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1920-12-24
Leastwise Budget Commission
Will Make Such Recommenda-
ton to General Assembly.
COMPLAIN OF HIGH TAXES
In Solving Taxing Problems Perma-
ncnt improvements Will BE
FOreEone Next Ycar-Will Re-
quire Levy OF II Mills On
Taxable Property.

= AOP>Asys
COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec 23.-The
state budget commission will recon-
mend an appropriation of approx
mateIy s7,0OO,OOO for the operation
OF the state government, its depart
ments and institutions for 1921.
This will be decrease of about two
and one-half million dollars from the
estimates submitted to il, which to-
tailed $9,S6S,2O6 This would
mean levy OF approximately IA
mills on n valuation OF between s44S.-
100000 and s450,OO0. 600 in tangible
property. as estimated by the state
tax commission. This levy. however.
could be reduced because of the mon
eys from other sources which must
he turned into the state treasury un-
der the budget law
81 have not yet completed NV
study of our 1927 budget in all of
ITS Details stated Governor Cooper.
chairman OF the commission TODAY
when questioned relative to the tax
agitation in the state at present "but
l Will recommend reduction OF an
preparations from the year. 1920.
with the exception OF the appropria-
tion for the public schools I am
satisfied further that with other rec
concentrations which will be SUBMIT
ed to the legislature. the levy of
1921 can. and will, be materially re-
duced. / expect to discuss this whole
question in detail in my annual mes
sage"
= While he has made no statement
. TO the effect, II is understood that
the governor will ask the general
assembly TO propose a bond issue to
the people in referendum cleo
tion. f-e issue to cover ten years
of permanent improvements. The
theory is that to arrive at an ade-
NQuate estimate of the wants of the
ate along permanent lines. a COM
mission OF engineers should be ap-
pointed to make n thorough study of
the wants Of each institution and ac-
.tivity and report in detail to the leg
fslative bodies before the election is
ordered.
Along this line il can he authori-
, tatively stated that the budget com
mission will turn it's face for any
appropriation for permanent i'm
provements for 1921, this. OF course.
including new buildings at state in
stitutfons OF higher learning and
state-operated charitable and cor
! rectional activities.
There is cry throughout the
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 be
!, that the burden is from the state
government. Even a casual ANALYSIS
lof the states finances shows that.
should all but purely governmental
AuhSSAokio dStiS loI lhc ptOpIe az
whole, be eliminated. South Carolina
could be operated on about one
mill levy. or $513,877.16. using the
figures for expenditures in. 1919. the
only ones available at this time. or
this amount. $288,296.41 Is for the
executive department, $155,29534
for the judiciary and $7O,28541 for
the legislative branch.
fThe fact OF the matter is that the
eat burden for taxation is from
counties, mostly in levies for
pi purposes voted by the people
selves. and from the munici-
For instance. the city OF
KIN pays a 91-mill levy, the
'umbia, II 1-2 mills; the
enville, 81 mills and the
+, eter 80 "a mills. OF these
~ills are for the state
.Aperty in Charlesto on
San Sumter, s6.O81,-
.~Ae, $s,295.755, and
IN. .ep1f1 Iapss1ss;,ll