The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1922-08-25
REDUCTION
OF TAXES AIM
OF ASSN.

The State Federation of Taxpavers
Associations, organized to coordinate
the work of all tax reducing organi-
zations throughout the state. has in
stltuted an aggressive campaign ia
lower the cost of government in the
state of Washington and all of its
subdivisions of government. The an
nounced purpose of the state fedora
ton is to bring about a reduction of
twenty-five per cent in public expen-
ditures and a definite, constructive
program has been outlined to this end.
The State Federation of Taxpayers
associations proposes to have local
tax units in every county in the state
and the work of organizing these units
Is now IN progress under the direc-
ton of Frank NJ. Dallam, Jr.. who is
assistant to the president and field
director of the state organization.
"TaX reduction is very largely a
question of business organization in
government" says a statement issued
by Mr.. Dallam, "and it is the purpose
of the State Federation of Taxpayers'
association to bring about the estab-
lishment of business methods in the
conduct of public business. Experts
who have given the tax question care
ful study have arrived at the conclu-
sion that public expenditures can be
cut fully twenty-five per cent with
more efficient management and that
is the aim of this organization. To
bring about this result will require
thorough organization of taxpayers in
every county.
1T is not the intention of the state
federation to take away any of the
functions of local tax organizations.
Local tax problems must be handled
through working tax units. This will
require study of local conditions to
determine where reductions may prop
erly be made, and county, municipal
and district tax reduction will depend
to large degree upon the activity of
the different local tax reducing or
ganizations. The state federation
will render all possible assistance to
the local units.
''1n the definite plan Of tax reduc-
ton requiring legislative enactment
the State Federation of Taxpayers
associations has outlined five proposed
laws and others will be developed as
the study of the tax question pro-
crosses.
"The first proposed legislative en-
actment, as the initial step in putting
business methods into government
activities, ia a budget law. The state
federation proposes that the budget
law shall apply to each eXpending Of
fetal of every division of government
and shall hold all such eXpending Of
ficials personally liable, on their
bonds, for any expenditures in excess
Of the budget estimate. The emer-
gency feature of this proposed law
provides that no deficit expenditure
may be authorized as an emergency
except by the unanimous vote of the
elective officers entitled to vote on the
expenditure.
"When it is considered that the
total combined deficit expenditures of
the different divisions of government
in this state exceed $10,O00,000 dur
ing the years 1919 and 1920 the neces-
sity of such budget law will be ap-
parent
"Another important feature of the
proposed budget law is to require the
different counties to classify their
county roads and to adopt road
building program in connection with
the budget and to require that road
money be expended only in accord
ance with such road building program.
This is designed to pace county
road building on a business basis,
free from politics, and in conformity
with actual needs.
"The second proposed legislative
enactment is the 'pay-asyou-g plan
in all bond issues by requiring that
all future bond issues, both for new
Indebtedness and for refunding Of
present bonded debt, shall be serial
in type.
"The present bonded indebtedness
of all divisions of government in this
state, for all purposes, is in excess Of
S174,000,000 on which the taxpayers
are paying an annual interest charge
Of approximately s10.000.000. 1t is
estimated that the serial bond plan
will save between s2,50O,00O and So
100000 annually in interest.
"The third proposal is TO require
all Of the different divisions of gov
ernment to standardize their publicly
owned automobiles and to fix limit
of price which may be paid for a pub
licly owned automobile and to provide
penalties for private use of the same.
"This is designed to correct one Of
the most wasteful extravagences in
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