The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-12-16
THE TAX PROBLEM OF THE
MARYLAND FARMER
BY Miles H. Fairbank, Secre-
tary- Treasurer Md. Farm
Bureau Federation



ated $2,567, ISL for the main
tenance of county roads anu
bridges. This amounted to am
average of 20 per cent of the
total budget of the counties.
The road appropriation for
1928 has been reduced con-
siderably in most counties, but
it will probably be done at flu
ture expense, since work ne
elected must be paid for later.
The plan suggested by the
Maryland Farm Bureau and
other farm organizations is
simply to take care of this ex-
penditure from the gas tax and
license fund. Let us see how
this will work: In 1881 the
total receipts from the gasoline
tax, after all deductions, were
$7,431,OO2. OF this amount
80 per cent or $5,868,362 was
available for expenditure on
state roads.
The revenue from motor Ii
cense, after deducting the adj
ministrative cost of the Office OF
the Commissioner of Motor
Vehicles in 1881 amounted to
So, 606, 900; of which 80 per
cent or $2,4S4,058 was avail
able for the state roads system.
This totaled $8,352,420 which.
can be accepted as an approx
mate amount to be derived
from these sources annually.
In expanding this money, the
State Roads Commission is
guided by existing law as to the
division of the funds created.
fhe tax is .04c per gallon
there is an additional ole
Federal tax). One and one
nalf cent must now be spent on
new roads and this is known as
the lateral road fund. This is
allotted to the several counties
n proportion to their road
mileage to the total of the
state. Two cents is spent on
maintenance of the present,
system, wherever the need ex-
SITS. One-half cent is used for
he elimination of grade cross
ngs and must be matched by
he railroads. The revenue
rom the Commissioner of Mo-
or Vehicles is used for main
enance, reconstruction, and
DAD betterment wherever the
demands justify.
What the Farm Bureau las
proposed is this: That a new
division of the tax be made SC
that less money will be spent
on lateral roads. and on road
betternlent for the next several
years, and the funds, so divert
ed, be used to maintain county
roads. This does not mean
that road building in the coun-
les must cease. 1t SIMPLY
means that the State must
build lower cost roads in the
districts that do not have traf-
fic demands to warrant the
high-priced roads now being
constructed.
In addition. there is a fund
over $1,052,000, Federal Post
Road appropriation, that is
still to be spent on new roads.
There is also the construc-
ton of new bridges from the |
100000 bond issue Of which
$1,000,000 will still be avail
able in 1888.
1t will be seen, therefore, |
that after, the $2,5OO,OOO need
ed to maintain the county |
roads is provided for, there is |
still sufficient funds for road |
building and bridges.
Diverting funds for local |
road maintenance does not eff
feet the items of the bridge
bond issue or Federal Post |
Roads, nor does it jeopardize |
the maintenance of our present |
system, since ample funds are
left for this purpose if the pro-
gram of Strengthening curves,
and road Identification is cur
tailed for the next several |
years; and, most important, it |
will lift an appreciate load
from the backs of our harrass-
ed farmers.
There is some question re-
garding Baltimore City getting
a larger share of the gas tax
and license fund.
Under the present law, Bal
timore gets 20 per cent of the
total and thic 10 cnauk ~ n;+.,