The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-05-18

COURT SD|E |: [ / | |
/ ON'GAS MEASURE
HANDICAPS STATE
Reversal Of Transportation
Tax Causes Loss of
s2,5o0,oOO-
DEFICIT s1o2,l76
Unexpended Appropriations
for Buildings and Land Will
Reduce 1922 Deficit.

A dercit IN the state fund tSen
eral revenue) of 81, 552,91O.94 on
June so next, the end of the state
fiscal year, is estimated in the sew
enth annual report of Walter S.
Hallanan, state tax com missioner
and ex-officio inspector OF public
Offices Copies vi. the report In
bound volum es received here show
that 41.5S per cent of the Sill
5O42,4S23S disbursed by the state
government. or $1,000, s4s.4s.
went for education
Despite the defeat OF the oil and
gas transportation tax as result
of the ruling of the United States
Supreme Court. which would have
provided the state with revenue
amounting TO s2,50o.OOe. the
actual deficit in the state fInd,
gen eral revenue, at the end OF the
last fiscal year was only Sl02,-
1864.
The state had expected to re-
ceive the s2,500.000 as a tax on
transportation of oil and gas from
West Virginia to other states. and
the appropriations of the Legisla-
ture were based upon the assump-
ton that the revenue would be
received. But the recent decision
of the supreme court blasted the
hopes of the state administration
The oil and gas case is aoW
back in the West Virginia court OF.
appeals. upon the question of the
constitutionality of the act to tax
oil and gas transportation from
one point to another within this
state If the law is upheld. the
state will receive about $50, Oo0
and this amount will Offset the
deficit on June so. 1921.
Deficit to lie Small
The various departments will
not expend the total amount Of
their appropriations for the year
ending June so, 1922, and there
fore the deficit of million and
half dollars estimated for the
present fiscal year will not be
encountered
The grand total of estimated
expenditures for this year. which
provides for the expenditure of the
entire amount appropriated for
the year ending June 80. 1922.
except to the general school fund,
will be S7.659, 910.94 including
the deficit at the beginning OF the
year. the audit, which was prepar-
ed by Z "A. Dover, chief accoun-
tant, said.
The disbursements estimated
for this year, in detail. are:
State Board of Control. includ-
ing salaries and current expenses,
repairs and improvements. build
ing and land. 01,0S2.46 de
partment of public safety. $780,
900 appropriati in general
school fund O300,000; capitol
and land. s750.O00;
governors mansion and grounds.
SS2.500: repairs and improve
ments 700; expenditures by
all other departments and COM
missions s1.554.4O0.
The appropriation of 100000
to the general school fund for the
current year is the amount neces-
sary to meet the requirements of
the fund. The appropriation au-
thorized for this purpose isl
S1,O0O,000. However. only
100000 will be required for the
year, due to the fact that
the assessment year was changed
TO January L.
In estimating the receipts for
the year ending June 50. 922, the
amount TO be received from the
gross sales tax Law is estimated at
s2.500,000. The law is entirely
new. the audit says, and it is in
possible to estimate closely the!
to be received from this
source. The volume of business
SO far this year much below nor
NAL: in normal business condi-
.ions the act probably would pro-
duce s1.0O0.0O0 or more in excess
of the estimated amount for the
current year The tax. is depen-i
dent entirely upon the volume of,
business.
Must BE spent, However
Speaking of the appropriation
for the capitol and other build
ings, the audit says lit must be
kept in mind that appropriations
for buildings and land carried
over into the next year, under the
law available for expenditure. and
must be taken care of, together
with the appropriations for the
next year. Appropriations for
and land remain in
effect and are available for eSpen-
diture for three years from the
date of the passage of the appro-
priation act, hence the appropria-i
tiohs for buildings and land will
be available for expenditure until
1904 MANY