The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-11-14
Taxes, Taxes, Taxes
CAMPERS Weeklyl

(C0pper S weekly
State and local taxes again are higher this year almos.
everywhere in the United States.
Under twentieth century conditions the country is
everywhere expanding. government also is expanding.
and education and public improvements and welfare
projects call for more and more revenue.
Our ancient system Of taxation was never intended
to bear these strains. it was devised for simpler times
and Is showing serious signs Of breakdown. For years
VIC have patched It up with duplicate taxation to make
it deliver enough revenue. but every year our local gov
errncnts have piled fresh burdens upon the general prop
erty tax. We have no uniform system Of assessment
and appraisal
It is becoming plain that We must rebuild our state
and local taxation machine and give 1t a first-class
equalizer. with q sure-sl:ot method Of assessing and
valuing real estate for tAxAtion-Or tax 1T least half
our population out Of business or out Of their homes.
In most localities 1t has long been cheaper to rent
a home than to own one. In tho cities this AS added
one more economic reason tor the trend toward apart
ment houses and the abandonment Of the detached or
Taxpayers i. the United States are now paying on,
more than 4lO783OO0.O00 . year In taxes. federal, state
and local. This Is about the division as it stands now:
Al Federal taxes ............s 3 7si sss s5s
All state taxes ................. ls4852A2.24O 4
AL local taxes ................. 5ol1Jb1.9S4
Total .................. $lO.763O5l,l27
More than half Of this $4,000 100000 Of revenue is
RACED by local taxes. Safe and local taxes together
como to more than 81 O02 635. l74 a year.
And nearly $f00O. 600 Of this 81 O00O0OI0O Of state
and and , local IL taxes s,nn' are y raised Used! BY aa taxes as o., on farm e INLAND land on
The entire income tax OF the United states-federa1
and state-comes to less than s2y0o0oooooo. Land pays
HSiIly WIZ 40 MlN1L Ill hoAI6dn NIACIC 0kutC I6AS0 AS
less this year. it pays 1925 per cent Of ell state taxes.
Putting 1t another way: Out Of every 800 raised In
Lhe Z. s. for state and local taxe3. real estate contributes
more than $50. But out Of Iii taxes raised In the coun-
try-iedcral. state and local-the tax on incomes pays
only $l7.26 Of each 500 raised.
Doubtless this explains why moro and more states
IRE levylns IN income tax. and seeking other sources
Of revenue. II is interesting to note that Pennsylvania.
North Carolina and California have ceased levying taxes
on general property for state purposes.
High and ln~equitahle local taxes not only afflict the
farmer And the town and csy lot owner: they make It
aA~S HAa ~ ~ansRonfssnAp ~ the HaNtarW Auunnp IN m
unfortunate 9 TO Be- near = big city. he finds It difficult
70 compete with ! manufactures somewhere else whose
taxes are substantially Less.
and local government intensively. IS . big business Is
operated. IS beconling more and more vitality essential.
but these reforms must 60 hand Ia hand with m effi-
Gent. : scientific and On equitable system Of taxation
IL taxes are TO become lcss Of : curse and more Of =
benefit to the country than they now arc.