The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-05-31

State Aid S 1888 S 31,731
County Taxes, 9S'o4o 1I'1ao
City-Village Taxes 10,043 A. ICY
Township Taxes, 1929 lzo'4o'
Totals, 5 282,O33 Zoo,411
Four out of every five vehicles using
Minnesota roads are found on the
state trunk highways, but the use OF
road money is almost exactly revers-
ed, four out of five dollars going on
the local roads-other than trunk
highways. The showing is made on
official figures in new state high
way bulletin.
Road and bridge funds taxed in
this county for use this year and last
are given above. Trunk highway
funds to be expended in the
various counties during 1928 cannot
be estimated at this time, but on the
basis of the amount available for the
big z, OOO-mile heavy traffic system
will not average to exceed 20 per
cent of the total going on local roads.
The bulletin makes plain that the
closer control the people have over
road taxes, the longer are the funds
voted for road improvements and
maintenance.
Local road funds of $25, 899,00O
are available for use this year, Of
ficials figures show. The big part is
made up of tax levies of $685., 6S2
by counties, S6,445,121 by townships
and S1,1O4,318 by cities and villages.
State aid adds more than $2,0OO,OOO
and the balance is proceeds from
county bonds.
For trunk highways $5,850,000 of
current revenues will be available,
the bulletin states. Motor vehicle
tax collections are estimated at So
100000 and the federal aid is placed
at S1,85O,OOO. But deduction of
So, 100000 must be made for coun-
ty reimbursement bonds and interest.
ANY other funds for use on the trunk
routes this year must come from new
issues of county reimbursement
bonds as authorized by the last legis-
lature. Highway officials predict
that such issues by counties will ap-
proximate 100000 for the next
2-year period. :,
Minnesota counties, townships and
cities and villages reduced road and
bridge levies $2,288,00O the first
year after the main highways We're
taken over by the state. This year
the county and city-village funds are
cut $2,2OO,000 more, but townships
voted an increase of S445,000. The
net reduction is about $1,76O,OOO.
Nevertheless under the new plan,
more rapid progress is being made
in local road improvements at the
same time road tax levies as whole
are being reduced.
The increase voted in township
road funds is pointed to as controver-
ting reports that Minnesota farmers
favor the slowing up of the good
roads work. Farmers of the state
have a more direct voice IN raising
these than any other road funds, and
the increase is regarded as evidence
that they realize that good roads
taxes are cheaper than bad roads
taxes
Counties benefited most under
Minnesota's new plan of highway de-
velopment, the bulletin states, be-
cause they are relieved of response
bility for the Improvement and main
tenance of the main heavy-traveled
highways. This change was the same
as giving the counties five times as
much road and bridge money, the
main roads always having taken
about 80 per cent of the total funds.
Also, farms on the trunk highways
pay relatively the same county and
township road taxes as other farms,
but the money all goes back on the
county and township roads, none be-
ing used on the trunks.
Another gain for rural roads is the
fact that although about a third of
the automobile taxes are paid by
owners in Minneapolis, st. Paul and
Duluth, not dollar is used within
those cities. This was mentioned by
farmer members in the legislature
recently when the new law was pass
ed reducing the average auto tax for
1924 below the SIS figure agreed to
under Good Roads Amendment Mol.
Friends of good roads program in
sist that the trunk highways system
is paving its own way under the pro-
vision that motor vehicle funds are
the only tax revenues that can be u.s.
ed on them. Tests and figures show
that the tax paid on the average
automobile or truck is more than re-
turned to the owner in savings on re-
pairs. gasoline and tires resulting
from operation on improved roads.
The auto tax, incidentally, is less
than that under the old personal
property and state license laws.
Better trunk highways are credit
ed with being an important factor In
attracting to Minnesota thousands of
tourists who spend upwards of $780,
100000 season. This item OF new
money is held almost enough to reim-
burse Minnesota for trunk highway