The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-06-17
STATEMENT BY THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF
TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
or NEW o.

ENtttIitE toNNitTfE OF
II TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
or NEW MENICOD
For the past six and n half years
|lthc Taxpayers Association OF New
Mexico has been engaged in the IN
III v~hatfgatlon and study OF state aud
local governmental costs. and the
%cfrect OF such cost upon the burden
OF taxation borne. collectively and
individually. by the people OF the
date. The results Of these studica
have been given wide publicity.
ana the taxpayers generally ar
beginning to appreciate the necez-
sity for n greater interest In the
administration Of public affairs on
their part. n W. ma state the
general attitude Of taxpayers, as we
Interpret Il. h that we desire 90
maximum OF governmental service
at n minimum OF cost. with due
Il consideration OF the tnxpayinR
ability % the properly owners Of
the state
Tax Burden and raxpaying Ability
Briefly stated. the problem con-
fronting the taxpayer II that OF
providing the necessary revenues
for the constantly increasing gov
crnmcntnl expenditures. In a ak
year period. he has seen tho total
cost OF state. county. municipal and
Institutional administration rise
from f6,3fS, Sa2,27 in 1915 to SiS.-
] 600. o68.6O In 1921. He has cen
the total taxes levied on general
property increase from $4,000
lf1i.is tn 1915 TO Si~i,li7.S3i.S3 In
1891. He has seen the spread be-
tween the lowest and tho highest
tax rate per 81. 600 grow from So. 80
per $1,000 to 326.95 In 1915. 10 a
minimum OF sis.73 and . maNiTnum
Of Sb9.ib in 1921. Tho iucreaec in
tho bonded debt OF tho state and
ita various subdivisions from So
00O. 900 In 1915 to SIS zoe 900 In
1921 a also n cause for alarm. We
have not yet begun to feel the fun
4 effects Of bond issues In our tax
icvies. Interest to the mou OF
4 nearly $1,000. 900 annually will be
I required after authorized issues
shaii have been sold. In tho
course of a few years an equal
.mount will be required annually
FOR payment upon he principal
During the period 1915 10 1891
the assessed Waite Of property In
tho rtnto Increased from sara
7a9,sS2 to s~sss.f23. ISL. This l.
a~nfincrca-c OF only ss Ia per cent.
while governmental costs Increased
nearly $50 per cent and tax levies
more than $50 There WIS very
little increase In population or any
other indication ~ increase in
wealth except IN n fcw % the more
important towns Of the state. n Is
thir absence 81 increased ability to
hear he evcr heavier burGen OF
taxation which accounts for the
present anxiety throughout the
/ state.
That New Mexico n not a wealthy
II state u n fnct most forcibiy Inn
pressed upon US by statistics fur
niahed by the Bureau Of Internal
Revenue. In 1919 New Mexico's
per capita Of personal Incomes
above thn legal exemptions was
only SIS as compared with the low
est OF ass IN Mississippi aud the
\ hishcst figure Of taai IN New York.
stn bordering New Mexico show
! per capita income az follows;
Oklahoma - $40; Texas - stsS:
4 Ftnh-sf5S; Kansns-siH0: Art
zona-siSf; Coiorado-t203. New
Mexico stands forty first IN the list
T.. "hse' ~ .n,s .ssp'.s inpusn y
nay ~ -nown thnt Ntw MeNicoi =
~ avn uurnsn OF stat' n iocat
y ~. 'hah nat IN eNsrh
~nes Hua'ss, y IN aiS9 ne shpwn
~. ~" 1880 aNpayl nnihts
,u"sr ."eh tnhi oi Hueh states
ouI .o,a' aSsemeht OF
psop.t.S ~ -" M'Aien was s4ot-
"s,en Ie'i"eteg pros
..sy ~ M Pseiio sho inuus'fle'
~ /" .'"t' ]" isi'' IN i'%p' now
eohul.loh were susn hs
y r,s y = rs OF wv on
~ /. ron, "ho IN. ptospoet
.se 90 ~ :" e.nhp
~a,ovs,v'" W. leauit from fedueea
a.a,,.,., ~" .ann
'n '~Noh"shS eeh"F
WV ol tnc ioresoins' our
onss "aness SHeutd eNereise the
',.se oo'u'rasion ahd care IN
~. taassss oi ,h'H ~sstinate
Ia my pc ppssiple "
~nn.a.nn postfWlu
.n. rnessior an inc noH
'ni .vhnit'uns wiz pc re-
,e~sNS "onls shoulu p SUD
- ."e mos. cefetul scrutiny
sa.a pa.ea W ast.al neeeS.2iies.
ea,siui eNp,hnltefe OF Andn
as w ~I',"a,nihs mi OF the
~ snaI VIII heip
s - ''uuo. = ~ eutuen
~ r~shs 70
.rFS ~ iys W.
~,,.t ~" sa.s. ."nnsy, 'nrnl'
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