Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-01-30
Montana Reduces
State Indebtedness

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 27.-The
department Of commerce announces a
summary of the financial statistics of
the state of Montana for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1923. The per
capita figures for 1923 are based on
population of 548, 889, federal CEN
sus of January /, 1920. These sta
tistics were compiled by Hugh K
Cav, Jr., of the state auditors office.
Expenditures.
The payments for operation and
maintenance of the general depart
ments of Montana amounted to &c.
631, 522, or $11.9O per capita. This
includes 1852, 944, appointments
for education to the minor civil d.
visions of the state. In 1927 the COM
partive per capita for operation and
, maintenance of general departments
was 5000, and IN 1917, 1915. The
interest on debt in 1923 amounted to
/ $406,2 and OUTLAWS for permanent
improvements, to $3,573, 1854. The total
payments, therefore for operation and
maintenance Of general departments,
interest, and OUTLAWS were$10,611, 161.
The totals include all payments for
the year, whether made from current
revenues or from the proceeds of bond
issues.
OF the governmental costs reported
above, $4,078,074 was for highways,
$725,812 being for maintenance and
So, 292, 1862 for construction.
Revenues.
The total revenue receipts were $11,-
235,840, or $20.47 per capita. This
was $4,298,0 43 more than the total
payments of the year exclusive Of the
payments for permanent improve
ments, and $724,679 more than the
total payments including those for
permanent improvements. This excess
Of revenue receipts is reflected in re-
duction of debt, and in purchase of in
vestments, not shown in this sum-
mary. Property and special taxes rep
resented ISL per cent Of the total
revenue for 1928, 29.3 per cent for
1927, and 23.1 per cent for 1917. The
increase in the amount OF property
and special taxes collected was 75.1
per cent from 1917 to 1927, and 9.8
per cent from 1927 to 1928. The per
capita property and special taxes were
$5.14 in 1928, s4.69 in 1927, and $2.92
in 1917.
Earnings of general departments,
or compensation for services rendered
by state officials, represented per
cent of the total revenue for 1928,
7.3 per cent for 1927, and 81 per cent
for 1917
Business and nonbusiness licenses
constituted 1917 per cent of the total
revenue for 1923, 1853 per cent for
1927, and 28.7 per cent for 1917
Receipts from business licenses con-
sist chiefly of taxes exacted from
insurance and other incorporated com
panies and Of sales tax on gasoline,
while those from non-business licenses
comprise chiefly amounts paid for
hunting and fishing privileges. The
sales tax on gasoline amounted to
$1,763,614 in 1923 and $617, 266 in
1927, an increase of 1857 per cent.
This great increase is due to the fact
that after March /, 1927, the entire
amount of the sales tax on gasoline
was credited to the state for use of the
highway commission: before that date
q portion Of such tax was credited to
the counties. The revenue derived from
motor vehicle licenses is credited to
the counties.
Indebtedness.
The total funded or fixed debt out
standing June 80, 1923, was $685.
908.
The net indebtedness funded or
fixed debt less sinking fund assets)
was $4,666,984, or $3.50 per capita
In 1927 the per capita net debt was
1896, and in 1917, $1.91.
Assessed Valuations and Tax Levies.
The assessed valuation Of property
in Montana subject to ad valorem
taxation was $432, 544, 1O7; the amount
Of state taxes levied was 3, 1916 ,632;
and the per capita levy, 3-53. In 1927
the per capita was $685., and in 1917
$3.50.
/ will not be responsible for any
bills contracted by anyone hut nv