The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-10-10
The PLAIN FACTS ABOUT
STATE MEASURES 3 and "a

mill for operating other institu-
tions, department and offices OF
state.
AS a result the e for
state purposes has not been
enough to meet cost of operation
and the state is nov approximate
ly $4,000 900 in debt. This indebt-
edness, represented by registered
warrants against the general fund,
is using about S150,000 a year
from state tax revenues.
Referendum "a will renew sup
port for the four original units
of the University and it will re-
lieve the general fund of the sup
port of the two new units as well
as the various associated depart
ments and services.
Referendum "a will enable the
legislature to levy up to three
mills for the university units and
associated departments and SER
vices which is only about one-half
mill more than vas actually used
last year. At the same time it will
provide a little additional reven-
lie for the state general fund to
carry on the other state activities
and it will provide an opportunity
for reducing the general fund in
debtedness.
The problem of providing suffi-
cient revenue for operating the
state is brought about by a provis-
ion in the state constitution which
specifies that the Legislature may
levy not more than two and one
half mills for state purposes when
valuations are less than $500, 900
900, and not more than two mills
when valuations exceed this a.
mount. In the beginning property
was taxed at 100 per cent of its
assessed value, but in 1918 the
property classification law was
passed which reduced the taxable
value of property to an average
Of about 80 per cent Of its assess
ed value. Because of the reduced
taxable value the limited millage
specified in the constitution has
not provided sufficient revenue
for operating the state and for
that reason a special levy was
in 1920 and another is
necessary this year because the
old one expires.
Since the proposed three-mill
levy replaces a one and one-haf
mill levy it is clear that Referen-
1um 81 will add n and one-half
to the taxes for the support
If the state, providing, Of course,
hat the legislature decides that
he full three mills are necessary.
This means that property with a
ralue of $1,000 and taxed at 80 per
;ent of this, will pay as cents
than formerly. To be more
.pecific: the added cost on $1,000
n real estate and Improvements
will be As cents; on 81, 900 in per-
onal property, 30 cents; on $1,000 L
n net proceeds of mines, S1.50; {
$1,000 in public utilities, so {
ents; or an acre of tillable dry {
and. less than one-half cent; on a I
w~o-year-old steer, about one and {
ighth-tenths cents; on the aver c
ge automobile, about 8 cents. a
Montana faces a very critical q
ituation. The Referendum Meas a
res are most important. Regard c
IS of what our opinions may be D
4 tax matters, the problems Of u
lie state that are involved in
iese measures deserve the most "
Dreful study and consideration. U
here are two important facts b
at must be borne in mind; first, 8
any of our state institutions u
crowded far beyond their ca l
lcity and Referendum 33 will +
divide relief; second, the levy oi
1ich has supported the higher 81
vocational institutions expires ia
is year and Referendum "a will VI
sure that state support for these III
stitutions will be continued. Vi
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