New-York tribune., 1922-02-27
Curb Is Sought
On Real Estate
1aNExen1ptio'l
State Commission Find s
Much Revenue Is Lost
Without Justification: TO
Ask Legislature to Act
Urges Levy on Gasoline
Report Shows Money Saved
by Miller Plan of Con-
~olida'ing Tax Agencies
r,om Q SLa1 oo11csnond.1t

ALBANY Feb % The State Tax
Commission. in its annual report 10 be
submitted to the Leg stature tomorrow,
will urge legislation providing fewer
exemptions from local taNes on realty
and the imposition OF a one per cent
tax on each gallon of gasoline which,
it is estimated, would yield revenue
Of about S4,5Ooo0o annually.
The report also shows the practical
advantages obtained through the con
solidation Of all the states tax
agencies under ono general department.
This was done last year on tho urgent
Recommendation Of Governor Miller
and in the interest of economy and
efficiency IN state service.
Considerable attention IL given in
tho report Ia the results Of the con
solidation of the tax assessing and col
lcctng agencies.
Salaries of Is5 Saved
"1hc consolidated tax department
has been operating only since July l.,
1921. but already the number Of en-
nloYocs has been reduced from / 069
20 92i There has been effected a sav-
ing for persona service during the last
siN months of 1907 over the CORE
spondng SIX months Ct 1920 total OF
S1lS.000 Thousands Of dollars have
been saved in rental. as we'll a. IN
maintenanco and operation charge
The report SHOWS that $9S.739 ,154
vas turucd INTO the state treasury
during the tscsl year ending June 80,
1921. b. the various bureaus now un-
der the tax commission.
The largest single revenue producing
agency m the state is the corporation
taN bureau Of tho Department. This
bureau during the last fiscal yc9r rc-
coiVed more than $4,000, ,00o About
SA3.ooQ0o0 Of this went into the gen
oral fuud OF The state and about
SlA0oo.oo0 was distributed to the
counties Of the state. Tho receipts
from This source during tho last year
exceed all previous records by a large
sum The basis Of tins tax being net
income the commission believes the
business depression prevalent through
out state and nation Will result in a
considorable reduction in the revenue
from this source for the present fiscal
year. Il is believed the decrease VIII
nc about S9,o00.ooo.
Tho moves fcY state wide drivers
licenses aud increased motor truck fees
ere Endorsed by the commission. as is
the plan TO curb ,hc stealing Of cars by
providing THAT IN The transfer Of cars
certificates og ownership registered
with local police official must bc given.
Would Scrutinixe Exemptions
Inc entire subject Of exemption Of
real propcrtl from taxation should be
given serious consideration by tdc Leg
lslaturo. according to the commission.
which declares tha "for many Of the
statutory exemptions which now exist
there appears to be little { any lorical
reason. and public Qohcy would seem
20 dictate tnat tho sta should cur
tai oHisting exemptions and should
scrutini1e applications for future O..
cwptions with much greater care ;han
has been exercised boletoforc"
The report shows that tho assessed
value Of real property in thc state
for the gear 1921 WAS 04.l9q,17S, of
which S5.225,as6.G41 was exempt from
taxation, an increase of 96 per cent
over the exemption in 1920.
a bond FOR at least $500 is recon-
mcndcd for all taAicaDs operating in
cities and larger inspection force in
the motor vehicle bureaus is asked for