The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-31
TAXPAYER. TO
Be WALLOPED
IN POCKETDOOK
State Rate Is Likely to Be
liked Past 80 Cents;
Now Is 23.
HIGHWAY BOARD LOSES
Sixteen Millions Topped Off
Request; Budget Set
at So Millions.
HIGHWAY BOARD LOSES
BY BEN STERN


state governmental expenses for
1929 and 1880. the. budget commit
tee has learned.
This figure does not include spe-
cial levieS for memorials. hospitals,
a state library, institutions, educa-
tioral building construction, and
other special funds.
Based upon a governmental ex-
pense of $4,000, 900, the state tax
levy for 1929 and 1890 will be more
than 30 cents, budget committee
members estimate. being boosted
from % cents.
One feature Of the estimated bud
get total is that the $40.000,000 asked
by John D. Williams, state highway
director, has been slashed to ap-
proximately $24,000,00. In 1927, the
budget committee granted the high
way commission $21, 100000 for the
two-year program.
Demands Past $40, 100000
Demands this year for the bien-
nial budget have totaled more than
$79,000,O0O.
In 1927 the demand was for
$50 100000 and this included special
levies. This total was cut to
$49,OO0,00O.
This year the budget committee,
confronted with total requests for
S79,000,O00 for governmental de-
partments, exclusive of special lev
les, which added approximately
$l2,O00.00O, has decided to figure on
minimum buoeet basis of $751;
100000.
The 1927 budget committee could
compute levy on $3.50, 100000 more
of tsxables than are existent today
and the levy FOR all governmental
expenses, including special funds.
was % cents on each 800 of tax
ables.
This low figure was adhered to
only through cutting the general
fund appropriation from 1871 cents
in 1926 to 10.45 cents in 1923.
Use Much of Balance
But the general fund was starved
and 1t has been found necessary to
use more than half of Governor Ed
Jackson's $4,000, 900 balance to de-
fray the shortage.
Although the state highway COM
missions request will be slaShed to
about $12.000,000 for each year, yet
it has an increase of more than
$l.500,000 year over the 1927 bud
get grant.
However, the highway commits
sion will not be hurt badly For the
two years ended Oct. l. 1928. the
commission had available S30,000,-
600. OF this amount approximately
S8,000,000 was received from federal
aid gasoline tax and license fees.
Setting a definite appropriation
figure for the highway commission
is an empty gesture, because spe-
cial funds and taxes always have
in the past given from eight to ten
millions increase. BY asking for
the forty millions, the commission
had hoped that an increased gaso-
line tax would provide the differ
ence.
Two measures are pending in
committee seeking to increase the
gas tax. One provides for a IL
cent increase and the other for a l.
cent increase.
Want Cigaret Tax
Probability that the increase will
be permitted to die in committee.
A cigaret tax bill also is in COM
mittee, but funds from this special
tax are TO be used to pay the more
than Sl,000.000 deficit incurred by
township trustees, so the budget
makers have small consolation from
this.
Representative Sam J. Farrell of
Blackford county. chairman of the
house of representatives ways and
means committee, has introduced a
measure taxing foreign finance COM
panieS, which he hopes viii net the
state about $4,000 year in addi-
tional revenue.
The budget committee has before
it figures showing that the pres
ent year will bring the state. In ad-
dition TO the regular taxable prop
erty levy. $1.507,l50 from the regu-
lar state departments; special taxes
on inheritances. vessel tonnage and
fire insurance. S2.791, 400. receipts
at state institutions, S326.625; corr
borer levy returns. S124. $50. and de-
poSitory interest of $253.045.
These 1929 figures will be dupli-
Gated in 1890. budget committee