Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-12-07
Joint Legislative Body Pro
poses Reduction of State
Lew.
Levy.


poses Reduction of State
Levy.
Reduction of the state tax lev!
for 1922 by at least one-third is to be
the major proposal of the joint leg
islative committee on economy anc
consolidation, according to an an.
nouncement following two day ses.
sion of the committee in Columbia
last week. The meeting was attended
by Senator Neils Christensen, chair
man; Senators F. A. Miller and W.
Fred Lightsey, and Representative
E. t. Hughes and j. Ed. Anderson.
The only member absent was Repre-
sentative John K. Hamblin, who was
unavoidably detained by cases in
court.
According to the committees
statement, three different devices
will be used to reduce the state tax
levy from IL mills to eight mills or
less. The first is to postpone the con-
struction of practically all building
operations for year. The second is
to carry on the state government at
smaller cost by means of better or
ganization and improved operating
procedure. The third is to raise part
of the states money by levies on
those now escaping wholly or partial
ly their fair share of the burden. AL
told, according to the committee, the
general property tax can be reduced
over s2,Ooo,O0O compared with 1921.
Building Deferred.
After considerable discussion the
committee came to the conclusion
that financial conditions in the state
would justify it's recommendation to
the legislature of deferring practi--
cally all building operations in 1922.
Such action would result in reduc-
tion of the appropriations by ap-
proximately half a million dollars.
The committee realizes that this
means merely the deferring of eX-
penditures which in some cases will
have to be made later. In only few
instances, however, was the commit
tee able to learn of conditions MAX
ing the erection of new buildings at
once very desirable and in most cas-
es it was thought no great hardship
would result from a postponement of
the building program for one year.
The principal attention of the COM
mittee was given to the possibility
of savings through the consolidation
of state agencies, through better in
ternal organization in departments
and institutions, through the central
purchasing Of supplies, through i'm
provements in the states fiscal sys-
tenn, and through better operating
procedure. After carefully consider
ing conditions as found in each sep
arate department, commission, board
and institution, the committee con-
cluded that the appropriations for
1922 might be decreased by another
half million in this manner. In this
case the committee points out the saw
ings will not be for 1922 only but
will continue year after year indefi-
nitely. Members expressed the furth-
er opinion that closer financial con-
troll according to plan which will
be presented to the legislature may
be expected to prevent any rapid
and unreasonable increase in the cost
of state government during the pros
porous years which the committee be-
lieves will in the course of time be
experienced again in South Carolina.
Changes in System.
Additional relief should be given
hard pressed tax payers, the commit
tee believes, through changes in the
tax system, and the committee is
working on definite proposals to pre-
sent to the legislature. These pro-
posals will deal with new sources of
revenue and with means of so shift
ing the tax burden that it will be
more fairly distributed. In particular
the committee expects to recommend
the adoption of plans to recommend
the raising of at least $1,000,000
from those now escaping taxation in
whole or in part, with consequent
lessening of the levies on those now
carving the whole load.