The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-01-05
COMMISSIONS
ON TAXES TO
/ BE- APPOINTED
Governor to Name Them in
Different Parts of State to
Seek Reduction
THEN A STATE BODY
Ultimate Result Proposed Is
Recommendation to the
Next Legislature


" sections Of the state will be named
by Governor r. A. Nestos to CON
slider means of reducing the tax
burden, and after these commiss lions
have completed their work Il smaller
commission made from members of
the commissions will be asked to
present recommendation for the
next legislature, the Governor said
today.
Asked concerning his attitude on
the request made by Minot business
men for the appointment of state
wide commission to study the tax
problem, in addition to the school
finance commission authorized by
, the legislature, Governor Nestos said
! that he had reached his decision
after comforting with numerous
people in Minot, Grand Forks, Fargo
and from the small towns and
country between them, in regard to
the problem.
Largely Local Problem.
81 am glad to find that there is
so keen an interest in this subject
everywhere and IA disposition to
study this problem in n practical
way. In the past there was too
much of Il disposition to cry high
taxes but to refuse to listen to the
suggestion of reduction in expenses
either in the township, the school
district, the village, the city, or the
county. But, in the last year the
great majority of the people have
discovered that after all, the taxes
for state purposes take but small
part of each dollar. Of taxes paid
and that more than four-fifths OF
all the taxes are used for paying the
\ expenses of the local and county
governments and of the schools in
the community where each taxpayer
lives. They are also learning that
there is only one way OF reducing
taxes and that is by spending less
money, and that unless the people
of a particular community are will
ing to sacrifice some of the things
for which they are paying their tax
moneys today that there is no hope
of substantial tax reduction ana
that smaller taxes can come only by
making the expenses Of running the
townships, the school districts, tho
villages, the cities, and the counties
1ess than they are today. Of course
the state must also do it's share as
we tried to do last winter by lessen
ed appropriations and the vote Of
appropriation bills.
Seeking Members.
'In talking with these people,
have come to the conclusion" sale
Governor Nestos, "that on account
of the fact that this is so largely
local problem and because of the fur
Their fact that state commission tt
give to these problems the study re-
ouired would involve such an eX
penditure of time and money that few
men could afford to serve on such
commission that have concluded
that since this is 80 per cent loca
problem anyway that instead OF ap'
pointing one commission now, l an
going to encourage the creation OF
about six commissions in different
parts of the state who can then de-
vote time and study to this problem
during the winter and spring with
out any great money outlay for eX-
penses, Analysing with care the To-
cal expenses, the influence of liml'
tation of levies, and the possibilities
of cutting down government ex
penses. And then when these 81,
commissions have completed theil
labors and reported, select smalle,
commission from among those who
have reserved on these six commits
sions and ask them during the fal
months to prepare a report whlcf
shall sum up, in it the best conclu
sions of the six reports and submit
this for the consideration of the mex
legislative assembly. This, | feel
would give us the maximum Of in
vestigation, careful study, practica
suggestions, and helpful remedies, a
the least possible expense to thos'
who were helping to work out thi:
problem for the state of North Da
kota.
81 AM busy now trying to secure
the names of men and women in thu
various parts of the. state who un
derstand taxation, realize the import
ance of the local problems and art
willing to give the time and though
to the task of making such sugges
tions to the next legislative body, a.
may be of value in formulating :
program of sane economy for tn
various taxing districts of this state
and give the taxpayers of our state
some real relief"