The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-01-24
THEY PAY MORE THAN HALF OF
STATE TAXES


partment taxes to the general fund being
one under general discussion at this time,
the public may be interested in figures
showing that motor car owners are now
paving more than half of the State taxes
levied in North Carolina. These figures are
found in the report of the State Tax Com
mission for the last fiscal year and show
that 81 per cent of the entire revenue OF
the State was obtained from taxes on mo-
florists.
Gasoline taxes are the largest single
source of revenue to the state, this analysis
shows, contributing S5.1 per cent. of the
come taxes at Is. 3per cent, franchise taxes
at 1913 per cent, and motor vehicle regis
trations at 1913 per cent. Motorists paid
altogether 21,799,553 for the privilege Of
using their cars, out of total revenue of
S42, 572,0 39, or oil per cent of the total.
These figures do not include the income
taxes of $1S6,068 paid by motor vehicle,
accessory and gasoline dealers and truck
$67,814 paid to the state in ad valorem
taxes on motor vehicles, as a part of the
car owners share of the general tax bur-
den of the state. If these figures, together
with property taxes paid on garages, and
income taxes paid by men who use their
cars in business, were included, the total
would doubtless rise to 55 per cent. And
then no consideration is taken of the other
taxes which car owners as citizens and
business men of the state pay through
other channels just the same as any other
citizen pays them.
"The motorists of the state have accept
ed this tax burden in the past, because
they have been assured that the money
levied directly against them was to be used
for their benefit on the highways of the
state" John E. Mayo, secretary of the
North Carolina Petroleum Industries Com
mittee, said in commenting on these fig
ures. But now we find proposals seriously
considered in the general assembly for
raiding these funds for other purposes.
Since motorists are already bearing their
share of the general tax burden, it seems
eminently unjust that they, as class,
should be asked for special contribution
to the general fund, or to any special fund
of the state, from which they as class do
not derive any direct benefit.
Motor vehicles registered in the state
last year were assessed at total valuation
of S45, 209, 427-on which they paid taxes
of $21 ,799, 553, almost SO per cent tax.
This would be considered confscatory if
levied against any other commodity, but so
long as they felt that they derived special
benefit from this levy, they made little pro-
test. If now, however, this levy becomes a
part of the states general fiscal program,
violent storm of protest may we'll be eX-
pected. Even the railroads, with an as
sesSed valuation of $219 ,576,509, over four
times as great as that of motor vehicles, in
1882 paid in total taxes, including local
property taxes, only $5,2S4,8 73, or about a
quarter as much as motorists paid to the
state alone"
Motor vehicle license taxes and gasoline
taxes are special taxes, levied for a special
purpose. The direct benefits derived from
the expenditure of the money go in large
part to the class paying the taxes, the mo.
tor car owners and operators of the State
This class of citizens pays ad valorenl
taxes into the general fund on a valuation
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