The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1932-10-06
STATE TAX LEVY
HIGHEST IN HISTORY
The Maximum Amount Per-
mitted Will Leave General
Fund Short
A HEAVY OVERDRAFT
Tax Commission Puts Levy
Even Higher Than State
Auditor

st. Paul, Oct. 5-State Auditor
Stafford King today announced {
state tax levy of 1925 mills, the
highest in Minnesota history. It i.
the levy for 1882, payable mex
year. ., =.
Instead of declining in the second
year of the biennium, as usual, the
rate this time jumped still higher
Last year the total was 7.8S mills
Levies for the previous bienna
period were 6.43 for 1929 and ST.
mills for 1880.
Even this high levy will not be
enough Mr.. King declared. Tht
revenue fund will be short. This
levy for that fund was fixed by the
legislature at a maximum of f.:
mills for 1881 and 80 mills for 1892
The maximum amount has beer
levied in both years, but the rev
enue fund today shows a heavy
overdraft.
In cities of the first class, st
Paul, Minneapolis and Duluth, the
state tax levy will be SIS, becaus,
a special levy of 10 of a mill fol
public schools outside of these cite:
and for maintenance of the teach
ers retirement fund is not apple
able in the three cities.
The auditor estimated that SIT,
10000 would be needed to meet al
demands next year, while the tota
of 8.25 mills will raise only abou
$13, 100000, owing to a decrease il
the total assessed valuation of thu
state estimated at $275, 100000 t
1924, 100000. Last year the levy O.
1888 mills raised $14,857.772.
IF the falling off in the taxabl,
valuation or income from indirec
taxes could have been forseen by
the 1881 legislature the tax rat,
would be 1877 mills" Mr.. King sale
in announcing the levy.
He pointed out that the legisla
ture, at the time of fixing the rev
enue fund levy, estimated that tn.
80 mill would produce $6,076, 800 FOL
state expenses in 1882.
"The estimated reduction in tax
able valuation of real and persona
property for 1892 is approximately
500, 100000" he said, "but such re
duction in valuation cannot bt
charged to the 1881 legislature, a.
there was no way of determining
such a reduction and as the 1893
legislature fixed the tax rate in ar
amount not to exceed 80 mills fol
the year 1892, collectable in 1888
the present tax levy cannot be in
creased to meet the sum required
for appropriations available il
1888"
While Mr.. King estimated thai
$14, 857,772 was levied in 1882, the
state tax commission placed the
amount at $15,049,5s2 for that yea,
and $11, 080.603 for 1880.
Tax commission estimates of the
assessed valuation decrease ais:
vary from the figures of Mr.. King
According to J. G. EArmson, chair
man of the commission, a decrease
of approximately $275, 600, 900 will bt
shown.
The previous highest tax levy was
in 1919, when the rate was 81 mills
The general revenue fund levy Of
30 mills and the Red Lake game
preserve fund levy of .25 are the
only funds for which smaller lev,
is set for this year than for 1881
Levies for five other funds-sol
dier's relief, state and road anc
bridge, national guard armories
Spanish war veterans bonus anG
military camp construction-remair
the same.
The big increase is in the rura
credit tax fund with a levy of 10
as compared with .18 a year ago
The high levy is made necessary tt
take up tax certificates issued by
the rural credit bureau to meet out
standing interest on rural credit
bonds.
A levy of rs also was necessar,
for aid extended to Aitkin, Rosea,
and Mahnomen counties by the las
legislature. There was no levy fol-
this purpose a year ago.
A higher levy also was necessary
for the state board of relief, tn,
levy being .33 for this year as com
pared with 20 a year ago. .Th,
board of relief, consisting of mem
bers of the state executive council
has made numerous appropriation.
for relief purposes throughout tn,
state in the last year.