The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-01-07
HOLDS STATE
NOT CAUSE OF
TAX INCREASE
Commissioner Converse Says
State Levy Falls While
Others Increase
SHOWS DISTRIBUTION
Soldiers Bonus Big Part of /
Tax Lew in the Last Few
Years. He Says
SHOWS DISTRIBUTION

The general tate government is
not responsible for the big inc'casc
in taxes in North Dakota, A study
Of the increase in taxes, as prcScn-
ted to the jamestown Rotary club by
Tax Commissioner {. {. Converse,
discloses that the 1923 appropriations
from the general fund for the state
were less than those of 1921 by
%13l .9G3 which was a nine percent re
duction from the 1927 appropriations.
Of this reduction the gubcrnatorial
veto was one of the causes of the
decrease in the levy of state taxes
for the general fund in 1923, which
was lower than that Of 1922 by 1868
percent.
During the five years, 1919 to
1923 inclusive, the state board Of
equalization has levied approximate
~ $20,000,000 IN general property
taxes" said Mr.. Converse. .Of this
amount. the soldiers bonus is ac
countable for $5,659, 900 in round num-
bers; the indu strial and farm loan
interest levios are responsible for
$685. 900; the old state bonds are re-
sponsible for 1921 900, leaving a total
of general fund levies of $l2,462 900
out of II total of $2O,000,000.
The itemized statement for the
years 1919 to 1923 shows:
General fund levies e.. $l2l62, 1865
State bond sinking
fclI tn bnpISt opl II IT
State Bond interest
cold state bonds) ...... l7,095.64
Industrial bond interest
levies. total. ......... 1,S25,O5l. So
Soldiers bonus ........ 5,659,876.46
"Of the state taxes levied by the
state board of equalization in 1923
nearly S5 percent will be expended
for purposes other than the ordinary
upkecp of state government" Mr..
Converse said. Stating it in an
other way, of each dollar collected
from the 1923 state levy, there will
be paid out for state bonds and the
interest thereon seventeen and Il
fraction cents, for soldiers bonus
twenty-seven and a fraction cents
TO" education, including STATE insti-
tutions and state aid to schools,
twenty-nnc and fraction cents
penal and charitable institutions
eight and a fraction cents, a total of
90 cents and nine mills for those
four purposes to which is to be add
deficit in the home builders associa-
tlon, leaving fifteen cents and sever
mills Of each dollar to be applied tc
the expenses of the legislature, jul
dicial, executive and administrative
departments"
Continuing Mr.. Converse said:
at will be observed at once TIA,
PAID. there will be Il substantial re-
duction in state taxes. 1t may east
" be that with the return of better
times, with fewer dclinquencies in
farm loan interest, the levy for in
terest on state bonds can be made
less. NJ substantial reduction in
expenditures for penal and CHART
able institutions is to be anticipated
AS already suggested, it seems likely
that the added revenue after this
year from the oil tax and the income
tax will make further decrease in
the state levy"
Mr.. Converse pointed out that the
state levy is the smallest, and that
reduction in taxation is largel, ;
local problem. He gave the genera
property taxes in 1921 among tn,