The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-03-18
COST OF GOVERNMENT

The University News Letter has collect.
ed interesting information on the coSC VI
government, a much discussed II not exact,
w popular subject of conversation anu
newspaper comment at the present Tune.
Read the following and then file 1t 1or
reference:
We hear a great deal about the cost of state
government the cost of county government, and
the cost of municipal government. What really
matters is not what any field OF government
cost, but what government in the aggregate within
amid given area costs A state may have meXpen-
sive state government and expensive local govern
ment or some other combination The point that
should interest taxpayers in North Carolina is how
much does. all government in the state cost, and
how we compare with other states in this respect
The United States census bureau has recently
published the results of its study of the cost Of
state and local governments covering the year 1882
This report shows that for North Carolina the ag-
gregate cost of all government within the state
was little more than 129 million dollars. The
cost reduced to per capita basis, $4O.O7 and
North Carolina ranked forty-SecOnd among the
states. The only states where all government was
cheaper were South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi
Kentucky, Alabama and Georgia The cost in Geor-
ga the cheapest state 1882, or S6.45 per
capita below North Carolina The cost in Nevada,
the highest state. was $l31, more than three
times the cost in North Carolina. The average per
capita cost for all states $3.50, nearly
twice the average for North Carolina.
1t should be borne in mind that the study covers :
the year 1882 and that the cost of government in
North Carolina has been materially reduced since
that year. This is especially true of county gov
eminent. due to state operation and maintenance
of roads and schools at an aggregate saving of
several million dollars.
Governmental costs are classified under several {
headings First covers operation and maintenance
of general departments or current operating costs
The total for this ran to nearly "a million dollars. |
This covers general government; protection to per-
son and property; health and sanitation; highways;
charities hospitals and corrections schools libra
ries; recreation; development and conservation of
natural resources: and miscellaneous, the main =,
item being pensions.
Besides the current operating costs there are the
costs involved in the operation and maintenance of
public service enterprises, which are revenue pro-
ducing; interest on debt; and OUTLAWS mainly for
permanent improvements For North Carolina in
terest is large item, running to nearly twenty
eight million dollars. !
The total cost of state government for the wear
1882 was almost exactly Al million dollars The
cost reduced to a per capita basis was S1454, and
North Carolina ranked forty-frst among the states
in this respect. One-third of this sum was for in
terest and OUTLAWS.
In view of the fact that our state government
has greatly relieved the counties and municipal
ties of their former functions, our rank of FORTY
first in per capita cost of state government is sur
prisingly low Evidently the state is stretching its
dollars The few states that had cheaper state gov
eminent mainly in the South. State govern
ment was more expensive per capita in South Caro-
lima $21.97; Virginia Stat; Florida 1854; Ar
kansas $20.95; Louisiana $30.3S; Oklahoma SIT 92
and Texas $500. In only one southern state Mis-
lar per capita below the cost in North Carolina
sissippi state government as much as one dol
Strange butNtrue, according to the federal survey
The aggregate cost of county government for
1882 was $46,439,000. Reduced to a percapita
basis the amount was S14.37, and North Carolina
ranked 18th among the states. In other words
county government in North Carolina in 1882 was
EXPENSIVE compared with other states although bv
that time counties had been considerably relieved
nv our state government. The main relief to coun
ties. however has since 1931-32. In many
states counties are not important units of govern
ment The average per capita cost for all counties
in the United States Sass.
The cost of municipal government In North Caro-
lima aggregated a little over 25 million dollars. Re-
duced to a per capita basis, city population only,
the amount was S23. 0S and North Carolina ranked
S4th among the states. The average per capita cost
for all cities in the United States was S45.32 or
nearly twice the cost in North Carolina.