The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-05
lAxES ARE Huh
Kansas Due to Pay Toll of
$15O,OOO,OOO This Year.
Authorities Stagger Under
Heavy Tax Burden of 1921.
COST OF GOVERNMENT liked
VIII Be Several Weeks Before
Exact Amount Is Known.
State Taxes Increase 400 Per
Cent in 20 Years.
COST OF GOVERNMENT HKED

Even after Kansas markets her
120, 100000 bushel wheat crop she
may find it necessary to dispose of a
few liberty bonds or other securities
in order to provide enough money to
pay her taxes this year. On the basis
of incomplete returns and authorita-
tive estimates on direct and indirect
taxes-state, federal and local-Kan-
sas will pay in tolls this year an as
founding total of substantially $780,
100000.
There isn't much in the tax esti-
mates except a bad headache. 1t all
looks so large and impossible that
even the tax authorities rather stagger
under their burdens. But if the esti-
mates for the year are even reason
ably correct, there isn't much to look
forward to except the opportunity to
dig, dig, dig. Cost of every branch
OF government has seemingly gone
skyward and the levy-counting the
pennies on the kiddies' soft drink to
the dollars the widow pays the state
for a funeral in the home-the whole
bill for the year is so nearly $3.50, 0,000,-
600 that it isn't necessary to quibble
about two or three paltry millions
either way.
Total Was ses.O26,73s Last Year.
Last year the direct tax bill in Kan
wake of the assessor-was $68,026,-
1856. That included state, county,
township, city. school and special df-
rect taxes This year the state levy
has been boosted substantially so per
cent. Samuel 7. Howe, tax expert ano
chairman of the state tax commission,
is authority for the statement that all
local taxes will be advanced proper
tionately. That means an expense in
direct taxes this year of $1O8.SOO.OO
Then there is the government war
taX-amusement, soft drinks, luxury,
Incomes, excess profits and other
trimmings. Last year that item in
Kansas was $32,O00,000. In comment
ing on the state tax expense this week.
Governor Allen called attention to the
fact that the federal tax in Kansas for
1921 would be approximately $685.
100000.
Tax Expense Up To S146, SOC, 900.
The tax expense has now reached
46,S0O, 900. It has not taken into
account $2,000,000 raised by the state
this year thru indirect taxes-cor-
poration, inheritance, sand, insurance
and other taxes. That makes $148,-
100000.
a little less than $1,500,O00 for license
tags. New cars and an increase in the
license fee, will cost car owners ap-
proximately $3,60O,000 this year That
makes a total of $152, 100000.
That is the bill presented to prop
erty owners for the year. Nor does
it include several forms Of local taxes
including occupation and poll taxes.
Exact Amount Not Known.
1t will be several weeks before the
state tax commission is able to de-
termine the exact amount of taxes in
Kansas. But on the estimate of
general 60 per cent increase for this
year, it is safe to forecast that the
direct tax in Kansas will be in the
neighborhood of $108, 100000. Last
years total-without the trimmings
was $50, ,026,738 collected as follows:
state, s5,440, ,33S.84; county, $17,307,-
626.93; township. $6.41S,s13.67; city
$14,S91,T41.18; school district. $10,-
919,062.S2; rural high school, $2.10S,-
23S.14; drainage district, S24S,
Increase of 400 Per Cent.
The increase of state taxes has in
twenty years increased 400 per cent
according to figures by the state tax
commission. That includes direct taxes
only. In 1901 the state raised ST.
002,190 in direct taxes. This year the
tax levy raises $8,4S1. 43S.
Per capita taxes this year will be
in excess of $50. Last year sthe. per
capita cost as figured on direct taxes
was S31.6O-
In 1880 the state raised for all pur-
poses-state, city, county, township,
school and specialist, ,699, 40S. That
was a per capita tax of $5.72-on the
basis OF population at that time. This
year the special and direct tax toll will
mean an increase of almost 1000 per
cent in per capita tax in spite of the
increase in Al years in property valua-
tions and in population.
Big Increase in Twenty Years.
The climb of state taxes in twenty
years is shown by state tax commission
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