The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1930-05-15
CHASE FURNISHES
DETAILED TAX DATA
State Auditors Compilation
by Counties Shows Why
Tax is Heavy
ECONOMY IS ADVISED
''Pay AS You Go" Rule for
municipalities Whenever
Possible

Illuminative facts on tax matters
in Minnesota are contained in a
comprehensive abstract of tax lists
of the counties of the safe for 1929
just released by State Auditor Ray
p. Chase.
The figures in the table furnish
conclusive proof that the tax situa-
ton in the state is critical, and
that remedial action is imperative.
Mr.. Chase, who has made an ex-
haustive study of tax matters, is
thoroughly familiar with every
detail of this institutional system
of levying funds for governmental
purposes, which has been employed
elementally since the dawn of civil
liZation.
His authoritative comment en-
ables the taxpayer to read in the
table the history of taxation in
Minnesota and to recognize the
danger revealed by the shifting
figures. The table shows repre-
sentative comparison of tax lists
over a period of 80 years.
Mr.. Chase pointed out that tax
rates in northern counties, soar
ing to 100 mills and more, have be-
come confiscatory and virtually
have reduced some counties to in
solvency. He says:
1.-THE remedy is to curtail ex-
penditures, get improvements only
when we can afford them, reduce
;et sion
borrowing. Just as individuals
should not live beyond their means
so communities should not erect
costly public structures or inaugu-
rate improvement programs for
which they cannot afford to pay
"This does not limit communities
to a strictly cash system, but
means they should pay as they go
when possible; that the present
generation should meet the obliga-
tions it incurs, and that deferred
payments on an improvement
should be redeemed within the
term of the project.
Every possible move should be
made to reduce administrative ex-
penses when this can be done with
out sacrificing efficiency. We have
a large number of federal, state,
county, city, village, township and
school district employees. We feei
the need of increased governmental
activities, but compromises must
be effected in order that improved
service may not add too great
burden. Clearly, the problem re.
quires careful study. Bond issues
should be reduced in amount and,
in some instances, wholly eliminat-
ed.
"Incurring of indebtedness on
long-term bonds, to be paid by a
generation yet unborn, for improve
ments that will be worn out or
superseded by something better
prior to the maturity of the debt, is
criminal in though and should be
made so in fact by legislative en-
actment."
Aitkin county is used as an ILLUS
tration. The figures are from the
1929 levies which reveal the sources
of all taxes levied and the channels
through which they are expended:
Total taxable valuation, 1881, 7SO;
average tax rate $500 mills; tota.
tax Ss42, 111O5; of this amount the
state receives $3S,S1709, school and
university $9,270.S3; teachers in
surance $376S8; county 1851, 63S.63;
city and villages, .$35, 937.96; town.
ships, $139,079.S3; school districts,
$266, 9S9.S3.
Taxes on money and credits are
listed separately, as follows: total
value, $451, $4,000; total taxes, ST.
354o2; state, taxes (one-sixth OF
levy) S225.70; county taxes Zone
sixth of levy) $225.70; township
city and village taxes (one-third OF
levy $45131; school district taxes
(one-third of levy) $451.31.
The figures for Todd county,
rs given above for Aitkin
county are as follows: $11, 800,
average tax rate 6c.02 mills (this is
1.57 mills below the average for the
entire state), total tax levied $716,-
1890, of which amount the state
receives $5S,S14.90, school and I'M
iversity S14,O34.74, teachers insur-
ance $570,500, county $l99,l4O.ol,
city and villages $56,837.22 town
ships $122,434.96, schools $246,926.-
81.
Taxes on money and credits in
Todd county are as follows: Total
value $1,042,159, total tax SO 1856
state taxes (one-sixth of levy) $521,-
OF, county taxes (one-sixth Of levy
S521.O1, township, city and village
taxes (one-third Of levy $1,04217;
schools district taxes (one-third of
levy S1,042.37.
The abstract prepared by Mr..
Chase shows that the number OF
acres of land, exclusive OF town
lots in Todd county in 1929, was
500, 7O9.46, and that the value OF
this land including structures
thereon was $8,443, us, the average
value per acre being $14.15, as COM
pared with an average value for
the state of $21.67 per acre. The
value of town and city lots together
with buildings thereon, is given as
S1.562,784. The value OF personal
1