Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-19

/ their needs, have undertaken 10
stimulate a greater interest in it.
Changes Required
We believe that changing condi-
tions require changes in government
and that the people themselves have
that responsibility. We recognize
that the farm bureau and the tax
PAYERS association are not charged
with the functions of government
nor the criticism of officials. We
do. however, assume the right to
promote the study of governmental
problems and to indicate such
changes as seem advisable. Other
agencies of the county have initiat-
ed studies as to the advisability of
material changes in the type OF our
county government. To the prose-
cution of such studies we pledge our
aid and interest. Our present con-
Germ. however, is with a study OF
the county budget as provided for
by the 1927 law.
Because OF the limited time and
lack of facilities for detailed study
of the budget. we are limiting our
recommendation to one item. We
suggest the elimination of the 40
cent road tax. In support of this
proposal we submit the following
argument: There is general recog-
milton that real estate is over-taxed.
over taxation is destroying the
value of investments in land and
the desire for home ownership.
There is a general demand from all
parts of the state, particularly In
the southern counties. for the elimi-
nation of this tax. There Is uni
versal approval of the gasoline tax
and growing belief that the recent
and probable increases in the
amounts derived from this tax will
be adequate to care for present
roads for a few years at least and
for such new roads as may be war
ranted in times of depression.
We have heard three arguments
against this proposal; First, those
men now employed on the roads
should be continued in employ
ment: second, the large equipment
in which the county has recently
invested in view of a large road
program should be used: third. the
taxpayer gets more value from
dollar spent on roads than from
similar amount spent for any other
governmental purpose. To these
arguments we make the following
reply:
The same amount of money left
with the individual taxpayer will
account for the employment of as
much idle labor as it would If ex-
pended by the board of supervisors.
If we were to make detailed study
of the personne: and salaries OF the
road service, having in mind the
employment of idle labor in time
of depression, we might recommend
the cutting of salaries and the en-
ployment OF more men. We haven't
made such a study and make no
recommendation.
Real Estate Pays
The second of the three argu-
ments is not worth the time for re-
ply. We agree almost entirely with
the last of the three arguments.
However. we would state 1t differ
emily; thus: The public gets more
than a dollars worth of service for
every dollar spent on the roads by
the owner of real estate. There was
a time when real estate produced
considerable portion of the total
income of the people of the nation.
That is no longer true. The great
percentage of the total income now
is from business and personal serv-
ices. We hold that funds raised by
taxation should come from those
who benefit and from those able to
pay. The real estate owner pays his
portion of the gas tax and to tax
his property for roads is unjust.
That real estate must be relieved OF
this extra tax burden was recog-
nized long before the beginning OF
the present depression. This is not
temporary problem.
The limited information afforded
by the budget is inadequate for a
proper study of the road problem.
The great variation in the amounts
budgeted to the several road funds
is evidence of a poorly balanced
road plan and scheme of taxation.
We believe this is the opportune
time "a time when We all must look
carefully to expenditures to lop off
the road tax on real estate. This
does not constitute complete pro-
gram by any means, but 1t is a
proper, rational. beginning. There
are related problems the solution of
which, whether by charter form of
government, consolidation of tax
agencies, consolidated road districts
or what not, will be aided and not
hampered by doing away with the
road tax now.
This statement is neither an at
tack nor a demand upon the Board
of Supervisors. 1t is an attempt to
promote a public discussion of a
public question in keeping with the
spirit of budget law of 1927.
The board agreed to give careful
consideration to this request, after
exacting a pledge from the COM
Il