The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-11-19
Cut of Million Will
Not Balance Budget
Problem Is Emphasized By
Slash in Valuations and
Tax DeIinquencies
PART OF JOB ALREADY DONE
Salary Reduction Plan, If It
Stands, Appears to Be
Simplifying Factor

II the North Dakota legislature cuts
million a year off the present VOL
ume OF state expenditures it still will
not be enough to balance the budget
in 1888.
That is the opinion of Tax Commits
sioner 1ver A. Acker, who estimates
that at least $4,000, 900 must be slash
ed from the $8,568, 1882 appropriated
from the general fund at the 1881
session and who cites reasons why
there may be need for g reduction
far in excess of this amount.
A part of the cut already has been
made by the electorate through sup
port of tax-reduction measures pre-
sented by initiated petition, but vast
and disturbing job still confronts the
lawmakers, many of whom will be
serving in that capacity next year
for the first time. If the initiated law
cutting state salaries stands the court
challenge which is expected to be
made against it, the salary list will
have been reduced 20 per cent. If
the court holds that employees Of the
board Of administration may receive
no more than board members, as in
dicated by the wording of the law,
the saving will be somewhat greater.
Reduction in mileage fees, also eff
fected by initiative petition, will make
some savings.
The thing which makes the pro-
blem more pressing than that present.
ed by the task of keeping campaign
promises is the fact that state income
has been curtailed by the measure
reducing the taxable valuation from
IS to 50 per cent Of the actual valua-
ton.
This reduced the prospective re-
turns from the maximum legal levy by
one third and further slash in tax
income will be effected by the de-
creases in personal property and rail-
road valuations made by the state
board Of equalization at its meeting in
August. Thus the maximum possible
income will be reduced by more than
one third as compared with recent
years.
Further SlaSheS Forecast
Under the law which governs its
actions, the equalization board was
not permitted to equalize real estate
and farm. property valuations this
year, although Acker asserts it recog-
nized the imperative need.
Unquestionably, with taxes weigh
ing heavily upon all owners of farm
land, the demand for reductions in
real estate and farm valuations will be
urged with such intensity next year
that action is unacceptable. The re-
suit will be to lower still further the
taxable valuation upon which the
maximum permissible state levy Of
four mills will apply.
/ Taking all of these things into con-
sideration, Acker estimates that, un-
less new sources Of revenue are found
+ to take up some of the slack, it will
be necessary to cut expenditures for
state operation by approximately ST.
100000 for the next biennium as COM
pared with the present period.
There is some opportunity for saw
ing by refusing to appropriate for
new buildings and improvements at
state institutions, although mainten-
ance Of the vast properties already
owned by the state would be expect
ed. In 1891 appropriations for boil
er plants at the state institution fol
the feeble minded at Grafton and the
Agricultural college at Fargo. togeth.
er with . part of the cost Of the big
gymnasium at the Agricultural col.
lege bl:...t the year before, and some
improvements at other institutions
totalled about $25O,000. Unquestion.
ably that figure viii be lowered al
the 1888 session.
Examinations Of various depart.
ments and bureaus which have beer
created in recent years will help some
A minor saving In expenses was mad,
by cutting off the state tax supervi
sors, although friends Of this actiUt!
contend that this viii be more tina,
offset by reductions In revenue which
Continued on pago Nine)