Nogales international., 1932-01-20
Tax xFacts

Taxes are d perennial political question. More
political campaigns are fought over taxes than any
other ISSUE Whenever legislator or canddate Tor
office lacks real ISSUE he can always revert to the
subject OF taxes with the knoWedge tnat ne WI" have
an interested audience.
Interest in the subject Of taxes is almost univet-
sal In view of this widespread and continuing inter-
est in the subject the part OF the public 1t IS as
founding what small percentage of the voters pos
sess accurate information, even on the most element
ary fact concerning the situation In our state.
The economic depression and mounting tax
rate have combined to make the subject of taxation
one for acute discussion during the past two years
not only in Arizona, but throughout the nation.
Peculiarly, when taxes mentioned by polltl-
clans in Arizona attention is almost invariably direct
ed to state taxes The inference carried that in
der to tighten the burden of the taxpayers all that
is necessary is to reduce state expenditures Yet
little analysis Of the authentic statistics in the Of
flee of the state tax commission will reveal the mac
curacy Of such supositions captuaton Of all the
taxes collected by the state and its subdivisions IN
Arizona for the year 1881 reveals that only Fl per
cent Of the total for state purposes, while 70 per
cent Of the taxes paid by Arizona residents were col
ected for local purposes through their county, MUM
cipal and school districts assessments
There is not q county in Arizona wherein the
taxes assessed fer local purposes does not exceed by
several times the amount levied for state purposes.
One frequently hears the theory advanced by
legislators and politicians that all that is necessary
wages Of state officials and employees This popu
lar subject which usually receives enthusiastic re
sponse Yet anal ysis OF the distribution of the tax
levy for state purposes for the year $780, which is the
last available this particular subject shows that
the total cost of administration of all departments of
the state government amounted to only 7S9 per cent
Of the total collections From this it will appear that
II it possible to eliminate the entire admnistra
tive cost Of the state government, the problem of the
excessive tax burden would remain unsoved
Few Of 0ur tax doctors direct attention to the
tact that Of each tax dollar collected for state pr
poses 5432 per cent went for educational purposes
Politicians chary- of suggesting that economies
might be affected in this popular field which con-
snes over One-halof the tax revenues of the state
e1iXotelke, they play to the grandsand by charg-
ing the Wind-mills Of official salaries and wages
There is much inconsistency and absurdity in the
ordinary tax discussions which receive the limeght
OF publicity IN Arizona. An example of this class of
discussion were the many OratiOns delivered during
the recent special session of the legislature by mem
bers advocating reductions in state salaries How
ever when the opportunity to carry out these policies
was presented to the special session in a bill which
provided for the reduction Of the salaries of state
legislators from $500 to $1,000 per day. the measure
was buried under avalanche Of disapproval in the
lower house. lot Of legislators lost all interest in
the subject Of salary reductions of public servants
when the chance presented to prove their con-
sistency by giving them an opportunity to begin with
q slash Of their wages
That there is need for tax adjustments and re-
ductions in Arizona all candid and informed citizens
admit but the problem will never be properly solved
until can't hypocrisy and transformation are SUD-
planted by candOr earessness and facts in the treat
ment Of the subject.