Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1924-10-23
IDAHO'S STATE TAX REDUCTION
RECORD

IDAHO'S STATE TAX REDUCTION
RECORD
Practically one-fourth of the tau
burden for state purposes has been
lifted from the shoulders of property
owners since 1920. That is an i'm
portant statement. 1t is the claim
of the present Republican state ad-
ministration in power. 1t is the
record upon which Governor C. C.
Moore stands for reelection in Ida
no. And it will be a fact hard to
refute by those political agencies that
seek to bring about change in the
management of state affairs and sub
stitute in the place of that admin
istration one that offers promises, but
does not have the record that Gov
ernor Moore and his official family
have to back them.
The average taxpayer, unfortunate
as 1T may seem but true nevertheless
does not realize that the state tax
he pays is the smallest of all taxes he
is required to meet Because his
taxes are high, he is inclined, with
out first going into the facts, to place
the blame on the state administra-
ton in power. This is, of course,
an erroneous conclusion and decided
ly unfair to the party in power. III
he took the trouble to make the in
vestigation he would quickly realize
that local taxing bodies, not the
state, are responsible for the high
taxes he is paying; that the state tax
is small compared to the school and ,
such other taxes as he is required to
pay. II he was only confronted with
the state taxes his taxation burden
would be light indeed.
For five years now Republican ad-
m1nistrations in this state have been
whiting away at the state tax levies
and for four years they have each
succeeding year, reduced the tax
levy. Less money has been necessary
each of those five years to conduct
the business of the state. And if
less money was raised for the man
agement of the state, it necessarily
follows taxpayers paid in less money
TO the states treasury, so that the
benefit of the reduced tax levies we're
passed on to them.
In 1928, the first year of the ad-
ministration of Governor Moore.
there was decidedly heavy reduction
as compared to 1920. In 1921 there
was small reduction in the amount
OF the tax money raised for state pur-
poses, as compared to 1920, the total
amount of the reduction for all the
counties being s212,7912O. In 1922
there was larger reduction as com
pared with 1920, the total amount
for all counties being s327,936.79.
In 1928 there was a reduction of
&T02 2A0
Tor all counties of 23 per cent over
lSzO. That is indeed a remarkable
showing and one upon which Cover
nor Moore and his administration
nave every reason to feel proud Of
But this is not by any means the
end OF the state tax reduction. 1t is
estimated that the reduction for 1924
as compared with 1920, will be fully
three quarters of a million donarsi
what better evidence could be want
I'd for sound business administra-
lion OF state affairs? This is not a
promise of strict economy 1t is
strict economy.
But let us look at the record for
ne PAST five years-five years of Re-
publican state administration The
figures surely speak for themselves
In 1920 the total amount of tax
money raised for state purposes was
'3.059,841.94
IN 1921 the total amount of tar
money raised for state purposes. was
'2,S47,959.64.
In 1922 the total amount of far
money raised for state purposes, was
2,731.9O5.O5.
In 1928 the total amount of tar
money raised for state purposes was
1855, 000.91. 60
ana, 1t Is estimated, the total
mount OF tax money to be raised for
tate purposes will be $4,000 900
mis- example Of state governments
management has become contag-
'us. 1t Is being followed by MANY
ounties. Pruning is going on bv
'cal taxes are still far from the low
'Vel they should be. Governor
lcore's economy in business manage
tent has been accepted as a criterior
many counties and localities
Yet the cost of county government
Idaho is still nearly three tin,as
much as the cost Of state govern
ent. In Idaho today the cost of
cal government In 2101 taxing
nus within the state is well over
u times as much as the cost of ali
ate functions. Still twenty-five
unties show a reduced levy for
unity purposes in 1923 and a fur
or reduction will be shown with
9 close OF the present year. /
The inevitable conclusions that
lst be reached by this showing are. !
That state taxes constitute the :