Morris tribune., 1922-11-24
PROPOSES ADEQUATE
FUNDS FOR HIGHWAYS
State Highway Department Recon-
mends Ways of Financing Rea-
sonable Two Year Program

automobile tax revisions and other
changes In existing laws are to be ,
recommended to the Legislature OF
1923 by the state highway depart
ment. Commissioner Charles M. Bah
cock announced this week.
First, the department proposes
that the reimbursement bond law be
put in effect again for the benefit
of counties which did not act under
It's provisions. The law was orig
mated in the 1919 Legislature to
prevent possible neglect Of proposed
trunk highways in anticipation OF
she passage of Good Roads Amend
ment No. /. 1t authorized counties
under certain conditions to sell up
the $250,OOO each of bonds for use
on their respective portions OF pro-
uosed trunk routes, implying that in
terest and principal would be paid !
from the trunk highway fund when
created. Many counties sold bonds
in different amounts under this law,
1t is explained, and gained leads over
others. The highway department
proposes to even up the program by
giving all counties like opportunities,
although the new bonds to be sold
will depend upon votes of county
commissioners as before.
Many other states now joining In
the better roads movement with lib
,eral funds available, highway officials
assert, Minnesota must speed up its
program to retain it's present repu-
tation as a leader and profit by the
most direct returns. To that end,
the first issues of state trunk highway
bonds of $1O,OOO,OOO for 1928 and
1924, as provided under Amendment
No. /, are to be recommended to the
legislature. Besides extensive grad
ing and graveling improvements, this
will insure some paving on heaVy
traffic sections where the cost OF
maintaining even unsatisfactory gra-
vel surfacing is more than would be
the cost Of paving, bond interest In
cluded.
Changes of motor vehicle taxes,
without reduction Of the aggregate
revenue from this source, Will be
supported by the highway depart
ment. It will be maintained that
the average automobile and truck
owners already save on car expenses
gasoline and tires through road bet
terments in amounts equaling or ex-
ceedfng their taxes. While the
scheme under which, old cars are
taxed higher than new of the same
makes and models, the officials said,
big declines in car prices must be
considered in fixing new rates. ANY
other action would seriously cripple
the plan that Is giving Minnesota
better roads in record time and at
cost below average.
Highway officials themselves in
favor Of the gasoline tax under which
light cars pay more than heavy ma
the milage it covers, but insist that
it should be only part Of the tax
They contend that taxable property
value considerations cannot be 1g-
nored in any fair and just plan.
However, each cent a gallon on gaso-
line in Minnesota would take about
81 a year from the average car own
er and yield $1,125,00O annually for
extra additional improvements on the
roads, also it would permit tourists
from others states to contribute to the
cost of roads they use here. The
greater good roads savings, they
claim, would make it highly proht-
able investment and the road pro-
gram would be materially advanced
from year to year.
Commissioner Babcoek, comment
ing on the cry for lower taxes said
road levies in many ways are in a
special class. Of1cial records show
the first reduction of nearly $1,000
600 in county, township and city
village taxes for roads and bridges
came the first year after the new
highway plans took effect also that
larger cuts are indicated in future
years. Local roads will be improved
more rapidly in spite Of the reduc-
tions, the commissioner said, be-
cause the state now is building and
maintaining main highways which
formerly took big part of local
funds. State work is being paid for
entirely from federal aid and motor
vehicle tax receipts. The auto taxes
represent money which otherwise
would leave the state and go to au-
tomobile and tire manufacturers and
oil ref1ners.
Brief reference was made by Com
missioner Babcock to the implied un-
derstanding under Amendment No.
that $1O,OOO,O00 a year would be
provided for trunk highway system
which serves four-fifths of the high
way traffic in the state. Instead
current revenues have been $4,000
900 less than that sum and approx
imately a quarter of Minnesota road
funds-$2O, 100000 being the recent
average for local road purposes.
Tho ouoro oo uahicJo TOW Loot xyaor