The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-18
COST OF STATE
Government is
SS.51 A PERSON
1880 Figure 125 Per Cent
Higher Than in 1917,
U. S. Report Shows.

1t cost every man, woman and
child living in Indiana during 1890
approximately $9.51 to keep up the
state government.
This represents an approximate
l25 per cent jump in the per capita
cost since 1917.
In that year the figure was S4.28
a person and for the year ending
Sept. 30, 1890, it was 1851, the latter
figure representing a jump Of 80
cents over 1929.
Net governmental Indebtedness
for the 1880 period was 2,488, 156 or
n cents per capita. IN 1929 it was
IA cents and in 1917 the per capita
Indebtedness was cents.
Statistics compiled by the bureau
of census, department of commerce
reveal these facts computed on a
basis of an estimated population Of
3,239,000 in 1880.
The report shows that the pay
ments for operation and mainte-
nance of the general departments of
Indiana for the 1880 period amouted
to S3o,813,946.
This includes $4,709, 1892 appor-
toned for education to the minor
civil divisions Of the state.
The interest on debt in 1880
amounted to $125,O16 and OUTLAWS for
permanent improvements totaled
$2O,S7O,085. Total payments, there
fore, for operation and mainte-
nance of general departments, in
terest and OUTLAWS were $51, 1909, 047.
Highways Heaviest Cost
OF this amount $22S,134 repre-
sents payments by state depart
ment or enterprise to another on
accounts Of services. The totals
include all payments for the year,
whether made from revenues or
from the proceeds Of bond issues.
OF the government costs reported,
$25,660, 1877 was for highways di-
yided into $9,085 ,234 for mainte-
nance and $16,574,963 for construc-
ton.
The total revenue receipts we're
$50, 632, 093, or $1625 per capita.
This vas $21 ,693,131 more than the
total payments of the year, eXclu-
sive of the payments for permanent
improvements, and $823,046 more
than the total payments including
those for permanent improvements,
This excess of revenue receipts is
reflected in purchase of investments
not shown in this summary.
Tax Increase Steady
Property and special taxes rep
resented 1913 per cent of the total
revenue for 1880, 27.6 per cent for
1929, and GIL per cent for 1917. The
increase in the amount of property
and special taxes collected was 681
per cent from 1917 to 1880, and 1915
per cent from 1929 to 1880. The
per capita property and special
taxes were $4.61 in 1880, $4.20 in
1929, and $40 in 1917.
Earnings of general departments,
or compensation for services rem
dered by state officials, represented
9.5 per cent of the total revenue for
1890, 1912 per cent for 1929, and 11.9
per cent for 1917.
Business and nonbusiness licenses
constituted 48.9 per cent of the
total revenue for 1880, 46.8 per cent
for 1929, and 1877 per cent for 1917.
The sales tax on gasoline amount
ed to $16,832,448 in 1880, and $14,-
033,711 in 1929, an increase of 1919
per cent.
The assessed valuation of prop
erty in Indiana subject to ad
valorem taxation was $5,161 ,069,113;
the amount of state taxes levied
was $14,967, 100; and the per capita
levy, $462. In 1929 the per capita
levy was $4.67, and in 1917, $z.63.