The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-05-09
LARGE GAIN in N. c.
REVENUE ANTICIPATED

Continued from page 0ne)
result that revenue next year,
which will be based on business
done this year, will be consider
ably more than it was this year.
I feel reasonably certain that the
state will collect at least $4,000
600 more in revenue next year
than it will collect during the
present fiscal year."
Treasurer Johnson did not see
much chance, however, for max
ing any material reduction in any
of the present state taxes if the
state is going to continue to OPP
crate the schools entirely from in
direct taxes, unless the counties
again become willing to bear part
of the cost of maintaining the
schools from property taxes. And
he does not believe the counties
are any more willing or any more
able to pay property taxes now
than they were in 1888.
If the school teachers and other
state employees will only be pa
tient, they can be assured OF a
gradual increase in appropriations
for schools and other purposes
from the present revenue act be-
ginning next year-and it will be
impossible to get any more funds,
even from local property tax
levies before next year, Johnson
pointed out. Nor does he think
much will be gained by trying to
get the 1885 general assembly to
hunt new sources of revenue with
which to increase the appropria-
tions for schools, as badly as more
money may be needed for teach
ers' salaries and other purposes.
~ do not want to be misunder-
stood or give the impression that
I think the school teachers and
other state workers are getting
enough pay now, for any one who
is informed knows that they are
decidedly underpaid and haV"
been for the past two years,
Johnson said. "But with condi-
tons as they have been, they have
been paid just about as much as
the state could afford to pay
them. Conditions are definitely
getting better, however, and as
they improve, the present reve-
nue. law is going to bring in more
and more money. Then as soon
as the states revenue increases,
it can increase salaries
State Treasurer Johnson does
not see, however, how any of the
present indirect taxes can be re-
duced or removed entirely with
out either the state or the coun-
ties assuming some of the present
tax load in the form of property
taxes. He pointed out that there
is still s1,250.00O uncollected by
the counties of the Is cents state
property tax for schools imposed
bv the state from 1929 to 1881.
He also pointed out that as a re-
suit of the reduction in valuation
all over the state, q state prop.
ertv tax of 25 cents per $500 OF
valuation would be required to
Weld the S3,500.000 a year which
the Is cents tax formerly yielded.
On this same basis, a statewide
property tax of from 80 cents to
81 per 500 valuation would be
required to yield enough for the
s16,0 100000 appropriation for the
schools which the state is no"
providing from indirect taxation.
For the present assessed valua-
ton of all the property IN the
state is only $2,Os3,171,716, or
approximately one billion dollars
less than it was two years ago:
Thus allowing for taxes that
would not or could not be collect
ed, a statewide property tax OF
not less than 80 cents would be
necessary to yield 100000
While some of the present IN
direct state taxes are bothersme
and more or less obnoxious, the
prevailing belief here is that
return to the property tax would
be even more obnoxious.