The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-12-07
MINNESOTA FIGURES ARE
WELL BELOW AVERAGE
Owners In Many other States Are
Paying More; Good Roads
Saving Less
COMPARISON OF SCHEDULES

Minnesosa automobile taxes are
lower than Gose of the average state
in spite OF the big trunk highway
program being financed wholly with
auto taxes and federal aid and Of the
good road reputation already won
by the state.
The statement in a state highway
bulletin this week Is based upon flg-
ures for all the states as reported on
q survey by the American Associa-
ton Of State Highway officials. The
Minnesota tax on the average auto
mobile Is $21S less than in the aver
age state, according to the available
figures. Total taxes on automobiles
are used, however, the personal pro-
perty, state license, gasoline and
other levies being included In each
instance, against the lieu state tax
in Minnesota. The figures are care
fully compiled, the bulletin adds,
and regarded as accurate, the gen
eral survey being by an unbiased
organization, and Minnesota figures
official.
A further showing held Of inter
est i is that an ,S sysrase oo Of SIS a,s Is
Amendment No. /, il levied here,
of the average state.
Representative ears In different
classes are used for comparisons.
Four cylinder Fords and Dodges
and the six-cyiinder Buick Of the
FIVE passenger touring models are
the first three. Other models are the
S-cylinder Cadillac and twelve cyl
inder Packards, both Of the seven
passenger touring types.
at Is miles on $500 miles a
twelve miles for Bucks, eight miles
ards, as on the national tables re-
1orted. Personal property tax rate
averages are sixty mills in country
a9d ITO mills in cities on 60 per
cent Of list prices. and the registra-
ton fees are actual amounts col
lected.
The Minnesota taxes are figured
at new 1924 rates on 1891 cars, rated
in the motor vehicle REGISTRATION de-
partment as giving the fairest aver
age. The bulletin points out that the
averages for all the states are SINH
larly rated. On the basis Of 1922
models, the MINNESOTA taxes are
lower on the whole, although slightly
higher on the more expensive mo-
dels. They are Fords S12: Dog
1886: Bucks, S26l2e; CadiIiaEA
$63.47; and. Packard$, $S4.70. This
emphasizes that IN comparison with
those in other states. Ford Owners
and others paying the $12 minimum
are fairly treated and thew form
more than half Of the car owners IN
the state.
Gasoline tax figures from the same
source show that a 2-cents-a- gallon
tax, as proposed in Minnesota, would
cost car owners as Follows: Ford
S.; Dodge, $6.92; Buick, $3.50; Ca
dillac, st1.24; and Packard SIS. But
it will mean, according to the bull
letin, the use Of approximately So
100000 Of extra road betterment
every year to reduce gasoline con-
sumption, tire wear and general car
expenses. Further, it win allow
tourist from other states covering
large mileages here to contribute
toward the better road program.
There are thirty four states in
which motor vehicles are taxed as
personal property, either in lieu OF
q fiat license rate or in addition to
some other fee. In practically all
these states city owned cars, be-
cause Of higher city tax rates pay
higher tax than country cars. In
Minnesota the tax is the same for
both city and country but none Of
the proceeds is used in the large
cities which pay probably a third o.
the whole tax.