The Redwood gazette., 1935-01-03
Tax Reform Bill to be
Offered in 1885 Legislature

Officials of the Minnesota Tax
payers association have been working
for many months on the legislative
bills that will deal with problems
considered of the utmost Importance
to the taxpayer and to the promotion
of wise and economical administra-
tion of governmental functions.
These bills will be completed pre-
ceding the opening of the coming
session of the state legislature. Ex-
haustive studies have been made as
basis for the change proposed. In
some cases, the state association will
recommend changes in old laws; in
other cases entirely new proposals
will be offered.
To promote effective tax reform,
the Minnesota Taxpayers association
has devised program of seven
points that will deal with:
Tax Reductions-A continuation of
the policy to advise less spending
throughout the state as a very i'm
portant means of saving taxpayers
from bankruptcy and of saving the
government from the same fate. The
state association feels that the accu-
mulative savings of $45,OOO,OOO in
local government costs since 1880 de-
monstrates the effectiveness of the
campaign that has been made. It
should be continued.
Tax Delinquency-The state asso-
citation made a comprehensive study
of the tax delinquency situation some
time ago, making survey of the 81
counties, and following this devised
five point program to cover the tax
delinquency situation, and these will
be recommended to the coming ses-
sion.
Accounting Systems there
is a more efficient accounting system
in the state it will be very difficult TO
make intelligent economies. The tax
payers should receive intelligent,
simple reports compiled from an
efficient bookkeeping system. These
reports must come from their Off
cials, and give the citizen proper in
formation so that the taxpayer will
have his finger on the government
pulse at all times, and know where
his money is going.
Budgets-Levies cannot be held
down unless there are carefully plan
ned expenditures. Budget making is
necessary, and these budgets should
be published before the levies are
spread on the books so that taxpay-
ers can have an opportunity to study
them and modify them when necs-
sary, and to see that appropriations
are used for the purpose intended.
The taxpayers wishes would be con-
veyed to officials through annual
budget hearings, under the proposed
new law.
Expenditure Control - The plan
here in mind is one simply to pro-
mote more careful consideration of
levies and bond issues-to bring ali
evidence into the open before a called
public hearing, and to give the nome
taxpayer a voice in home tax affairs
The decision for or against to be
vested in a local. board of review COM
posed of some such officials as the
county auditor, the chairman of the
board of county commissioners, and
three selected at large, and their de-
cision to be subject, if necessary, to
voters of the governmental unit. This
measure, it is believed, would effect
millions of dollars in savings annual
ly throughout the state.
Consultations and Notifications
There are number of things that
come under this head, but such
changes would contemplate doing
away with some Implications through |
consultations, and would offer
changes in tax collections, and some
reforms in issuing warrants.
Tax Equalization-The proposals
here in mind contemplate the equaliz-
alton of taxes, and would remove
supplementary source of local reve-
nue.. Under the equalization pro- |
posals, whatever public improve
ments or benefits that are incident 10
the protection, service, and the value
of real estate would be the basis of |
determining levies assessed against /
such property. On the other hand,
services that are beneficial to the
average individual citizen-and not
regarded as of direct benefit to reaf.t
estate would be levied against those |
who receive the benefits. Real estate !
now carries 81 per cent of the cost |
Of local government, and this equal |
ization program would remove an
age-old condition deemed unfair to
the owner of real property.