The border vidette., 1929-09-07
TAx--MlNDEDNEss IN ARIZONA

nual progress report Of Presiden
Kuchler of the State Taxpayers
Association of Arizona was sub
mitted to the Western States
Tax Conference held at Chey
enne. Wyoming. Mr.. Kuchler'.
report follows:
We hear q great deal these
days about air -mindedness, tina,
open quality of mind that de
notes readiness to accept and
and avail ones self of modern
facilities for air travel. In q
similar sense, Arizona is becom
ing tax minded, for both public
officials and taxpayers them
selves are evincing increasing
interest in bringing about great
er economy in government, and
ia the utilization of modern
means for achieving such econ
omy.
The fiscal year just ended
has Witnessed closer adherence
to budget limitations on the part
of public officials, and apparently
q greater interest on the part OF
the tax-paying public IN such
adherence than has previously
been evident. More and more
it is being realized both by those
who pay taxes and those charg
ed with the responsibility of ex.
pending them, that economy can
come only through strict ADDER
ence to business principles, and
eternal vigilance, to the end that
demands for governmental ser
| vice of all sorts are not extended
and the burden thereby increas.
ed,
ut is indeed gratifying to be
able to report that state. county
and local officers charged with
financial responsibility are whole
l'heartedly and almost unanimous
~ cooperating with the State
] Taxpayers Association of Ari-
zona in eliminating unnecessary
Items from their budgets, and in
1.-THE application of business prin
ciples whenever it is legally
possible to do SO.
"Tax-mindedness in Arizona
has been reflected during the
past year not only. in greater in
terest in adhering to the budget
system, but also through legisla.
tion. Public realization of the
need for correction Of existing
inequalities and discrepancies in
valuations was reflected at the
last session of the legislature in
creation of q state board of tax
survey, with ample powers and
appropriation to make thor
Iough review of the assessment
rolls of the various counties.
This measure was supported by
the Taxpayers Association. An
other enactment created the of
fee of legislative examiner, with
| full power to examine into the
accounts and operations Of all
state departments supported by
appropriation of public money,
and to report to the legislature
at the beginning of each session
the condition of the affairs of the
various departments and the
manner in which each depart
ment is expendiug public funds.
Legislative tax-mindedness
in Arizona found expression also
in q new law designed to deal
firmly with the delinquent tax
problem. Some of its provisions
appear drastic when compared
with other measures enacted in
the past which proved 'ineffec
tive, and it's operation is being
watched with great interest by
taxpayers all over the state.
Consciousness of the tax bur,
den and the general desire to
keep that burden within its pre-.
sent limits has resulted in the
defeat of the proposal to add a
large state bond issue to our
public debt. Arizona has issued
no bonds since statehood, the
small state indebtedness being a
heritage from territorial days.
This has come about largely be
cause the people feel that they
are paying all they can afford.
to retire obligations incurred fol-
local improvements. Our asso
citation has vigorously opposed
every move to let down the bars
for a large state bond issue, and
80 far its efforts have been sue
.. cessful. Increasing costs of high
way maintenance are being EN-
phasized as necessitating state
bond issue of considerable size
in support of which of course
the full faith and credit of the
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