The Omaha morning bee., 1924-02-28
ABOUT TAXATION IN NEBRASKA.

It was inevitable, perhaps, that the tax ques.
ton should be raised from the state house in advance
of the primary election Governor Bryan, who hopes
to succeed himself, feels impeed to make it appear
that he has redeemed his promises, made during the
campaign of 1922, to reduce state taxation His tax
commissioner, therefore, out with statement
to the effect that under Mr. Bryan taxes in Nebraska
have been reduced by 40 per cent
The annual report of the tax commissioner and
the State Board of Equalization, lately published.
does not bear out this assertion so far as taxes
levied for state purposes are concerned On pages
96 and 81 of the report is printed
Statement No. s. showing the distribution by
counties of the state taxes for the general and
capitol funds and the total of the two funds for
1928 as we'll the total by counties for 1922"
The grand total of these tabuations shows that
in 1928 the levy for general purposes was $5,437,-
s1s34 for capitol building, $959,615, total for the
year of $6,397,433.34. For 1922 the total of the
two funds was $7,340,953.1o This shows areduc-
ton of $943 51s76 and is the only Rduction in gen.
eral taxation for which the governor by any
stretch of authority claim credit.
The total amount OF taxes collected for all pur-
poses in the state which includes city county, town.
shp village school, irrigation, drainage poll tax, and
all other forms Of taxation amounted to s53280,-
12474, in 1928. This compares with s53,457,-
4s1.56 for the year 1922, total reduction in az
taxes for the year Of $177,356S2. County taxes fol
1928 were $143, ,103.32 greater for 1923 than for
1922; school taxes 1851 ,231.31 less; city and
village taxes were s1S6,s6s.72 more; township
taxes were s11s,o06.03 less; drainage taxes
$135 5,94296 less; irrigation taxes were $66,2s241
more poll taxes were $12,653.35 more; and all other
taxes combined aggregated. $77o,325.39 more in
1923 than in 1922.
Going back to, 1921, we. find that the total tax
levied in the state for all purposes that year
$50, 1865, ,699.26, and this compared with the 1928
total shows reduction of $6Os5,57452. But OF
this the sum Of $5,90S, ,217.70 cut off in 1922,
the year before Mr.. Bryan went into Office On the
state taxes alone for the year 1921 the total
0,930, ,6O7.11, and in 1923 this had been cut by
N,525,149.45.
This probably gives color to the claim that under
the present administration the tax levy has been cut
By 40 per cent. But against this claim must be off
vet the fact that in 1922 the cut under the 1921 levy
was 1864, ,4sS.06.
These figures all taken, save the comparisons,
from the report of the tax commissioner, and there
fore are regarded dependable. Whatever of con.
,olation may be gained by the administration in sup
,ort of its claim to having reduced taxation in Ne
,raska, it is welcome to- The fact is that the great
change had been made before Mr.. Bryan went into
Office, and the only material difference that is ap-
parent is due to the cessation of certain state
ivities since he inaugurated.
For even the cessation of activities that reduced
the tax levy the republican legislature is largely
sponsibe 1t had the final say all appropriations.