The Raymer enterprise., 1921-01-13


was actually and accuratsly lisbsA u
would be possible 10 obtain M necss-
Iary rsvenus with little or no increase
In the levy. I, therefore. recommend
that the State Tax Commission be
oven 4 liberal appropriation In order
that In the future II may prepare .
full and complete roll Of taxAble
property.
Our inheritance tax rate u far be-
low that Of other ststes and a revision
" the present scale which win produce
approximately 2b per cent increase In
revenue Is recommended. With this
amendment Colorado still would have
/ lower rate than any other stats.
The state is In an excellent financial
condition. The state treasurer reports
receipts, including transfers. Of $751;
4s,o5s03 during the biennial period
which ended on Nov. 80, 1920. During
the same period disbursements totaled
s2S, ,9T3, SILT, 20 that the assets show
an increase Of s2,274,528Sa The to-
tai available resources In the hands Of
the treasurer on Nov. 80, 1920, were
SIC, ,385, ,331.05. OF this sum $2,200 900
was In cash and the balance in state
warrants, state bonds, school and mu-
nicIpal bonds and obligations Of the
United States government.
The states bonded indebtedness on
Nov. 80. 1920, was N.1S7,300, com
pared with $4,45l, 800 on November 30.
1913. The bonded indebtedness was
reduced by s2s4,50o during the bien-
mum Just ended. Interest earnings Of
the state during the past two years
amounted to s783, ,l62.72 while interest
payments for the same time totaled
s315,2 5,25O.3s. All state bonds are held
by various state investment funds,
with the exception Of only $418.200
held In private hands.
The state Inheritance tax depart
ment collected the unprecedented total
Of s1,294.S05.sl during the bisnnium.
The cost Of conducting this department.
was only S4O,33O.76. q most excellent
showing.
The state insurance department
turned into the state treasury total
Of $S24.044.7S, collected at an expsnse
Of $87,018. I believe that attention
should be called to the fact that twice
within the past two years the insur-
ance department has ordered reduc-
tons in fire insurance rates. Dffse-
tive Sept. ], 1919, the department or
dered a flat reduction Of 10 per cent
In premiums, saving the property own
err Of the state $S62,0O0. On Sept 1.
1920, another order was entered di.
recting the fire insurance companies to
reduce their total Of premiums col.
Iected by $325.OO0. This order now 10
being carried out BY the companies.
Over Appropriations.
When the regular session Of the
rwenty-second General Assembly ad.
journed It was found that appropria-
lions had been made which exceeded
the estimated revenue BY approximate
" $1,000, 900. However, the fiscal year
ending Nov. 80, 1920, closed with all
appropriations paid and Z surplus on
hand Of $557,0O0. It may be possible
that the revenue estimates submitted
to you In the report Of the Budget and
Commissioner for the pres
ent biennium also are low, but this
should not be assumed ~ q fact. The
tax levy should not be increased II II
can be avoided without positive injury
to the state and Its institutions, and
appropriations should not be made be-
yond the estimated revenue.
Whatever retrenchments We find 20
bs necessary In other agencies Of gov.
ernment we are In honor bound first
to make adequate provision for our
penal and corrective insti.
tutions. Therefore, It is urged that
the appropriations for these institu.
tons bs adequate to meet their rea.
sonable needs.
Educational Needs.
The growth Of our state institutions
Of higher learning Is fully appreciated
by the people who voted for an addi-
tional mill levy to be used In their sup
port. Funds from this source, II au-
by this General Assembly, win
not become available until early In
1922. The financial problem facing
these institutions In the period Of 1920
1921 demands your serious considera-
ton.
State Institutions
The condition Of state institutions Is
In the report Of the Budget
and Efficiency Commissioner which
soon will he before you and, therefore,
1t Is unnecessary In this message to
set forth their growth and needs.
The Twenty.second General Assem-.
bly, authorized the admission Of the
wives Of veterans to the Soldiers and
Sailors Home, but made no appropria.
ton to erect the necessary buildings.
Suitable accommodations should be
provided for this purpose as soon q
state finances will permit.
orok aa<jnss - lnuA>A~-