Deming graphic., 1921-06-07
TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
DISCUSSES TWO AMENDMENTS

| DISCUSSES TWO AMENDMENTS
Discussing two out OF the eieyen
amendments To the state constitution,
the taxpayers association says
Proposed Announcement No. will
change Section 3. Article NN, and Sec
tion .. Article " of the Constitution.
II provides that all officers except the
Governor shall begin their terms rs at
present, and that the Governors term
shall begin one month earlier than at
present. that is, ON December LIST, fol-
lowing his election.
The opening of the legislative ses.
sion will take place two or three weeks
later than as az present The object
Of these provisions is To give time to
the Governor 10 study the financial
needs and abilities Of the state with
view to his submitting carefully pre-.
pared budget to the legislature. In
fact the sole purpose of the amend
ment is 10 establish an effective bud
get system as a feature of the states
financial administration.
II the amendment j. ratified. the
governor will have the power to collect
information from state boards, depart
mcnts and institutions, hold hearings
thereon and TO arrange budget for
the guidance Of the legislature. The
executive will also submit general
appropriation bin with the budget,
both 10 be presented not later than the
twentieth day Of the legislature. That
body will thus Ice able to begin early
consideration Of the departmental and
institutional requests. Through the
governor all necessary data may be
made available for the proper legislH-
tive committees. The items I'm the
general appropriation bill as submitted
by the governor may be revised down
ward by the Legislature but no item
can he increased. Il should be kept in
mind. however, that the governor NAV
amend or supplement the budget and
general appropriation hill. and after
final action upon the general appro-
priation hill, special appropriation
bills NAV be enacted The proposed
amendment would, therefore. permit
the executive and the legislative
branch of the government to cooperate
IN studying the needs Of the state and
/ in providing funds therefor. The rat
! iflcation of the budget amendment
will place New Mex In line with other
states where advances have been made
In efficiency of governmental admin
iStration. our state will also be In
line with the Federal Government II
the present efforts IN Congress are
successful aS seems highly probable
In public affairs. as well as in pri-
vate affairs. knowledge, foresight and
system should be applied Hit and
miss methods of handling public funds
il.usl be- tScarded. Upon the chief eX'
Iputiye officer rests the responsibility
| &C mnnaping the public business, and
|unm his houldcrs that responsibility
b is definitely placed 10y this amendment.
with two months in which To study the
needs Of the state. and after due con
Sidcration after hearing those interest
ed. the governor will be in position to
present well balanced appropriation
measure based upon budget prcpar-
ed according TO the relative merits Of
| the various and several demands for
revenue. Under present conditions lob
Ibying methods may secure for some
ldppartment or institution more than u
deserves. The budget plan embodied IN
/ the proposed Amendment will, 70 is he
lievcd. distribute public funds not only
more economically, hut also more fair
| ly and justly.
proposed Amendment No. $ changes
| Section =, Articles VIII Of the Con-
shmtion 50 as to place maximum
/ limitation Of
/. six mills for all state purposes
and usese ON each dollar Of the as
,eSSpd valuation of all property sub
iect Ia taxation In the state, Other
| Limitations are also established as fol
lows:
.. Five mills for all purposes and
uses excepting special school levies,
special levies for health, and special
levics I'm specific classes of property.
3. Two mill levy on all property
IN the state outside the foregoing limi-
tutions for state highways.
!. Fifteen mills for general county
school purposes Of which the levy In
excess Of ten mills requires the np-
proyal Of the county commissioners
aud the state Tax Commission.
.. Five mills for city town or vii
lage purposes and uses
6. Onc-hnf mill for health pur-
poses
:. Five mills for special school
district purposes.
:. Lcvies for payment ,i intclr
and principal Of puhlic Ceht are ro.
included any limitations.
o. Special exemptions from s'2f"' .-
ry limitations ms provided o. the FIfrf
Legislature will not De affected 10y the
ratification of the Eight Amendment
The necessity for the adoption OF
maximum limitations upon tax levies
is found IN the rapid increase Of tHN
rates during the last five years. II the
combined state and county tax rates
be considered Il will be found that the
increase Is startling In only three
counties has the increase been less
than fifty per cent In eight counties
II has, been more than one hundred
per cent. In the various county seats
the tax rate for all purposes increased
from - 10 40 per cent, the total tax
rate mounting 10 nearly five per cent
in several municipalities.
It must be- kept In mind that physi
cal property bears practically the
whole burden Of taxation In New
Mexico When this class Of property
pays the high rates AT present prevail