The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-12-19
Warns That
Sums Asked
Must BeCut
Taxpayers Assn. Says Too
Large Appropriations Must
Be Pared.
IF STATE BUDGET
is TO BE BALANCED

HELENA, Dec. 16.-WD-The
Montana Taxpayers, association
warned the state-and the forth
coming 194l legislatrue-that re-
quested appropriations must be cut
by $802,00 during each of the next
two years If the state budget is to
remain balanced.
The associations quarterly publ
cation also warned that the state
general fund income for 1941 and
1912 probably will be about $780,
600 less per year than the 1910 in
come for the fund. The orRanixa-
ton said higher federal income tax
es would be reflected in smaller re-
turns to the state in this classifica--
ton because the federal taxes may
be deducted in determining the
basis for state income levies.
According to the Taxpayers as-
sociation's quarterly publication, ap-
preparations totalinR more than ~
$3.50 for 194l-42 have been
asked of the new legislature. which
will hau> - -es&imAtAd Eane1al fund
income Of A.8l1 900 on which to
work.
Elective offices, the publication
said, have asked appropriations
amounting to SAG, 459 more than they
actually were granted in 1889. Fl
nancial boards and offices were said
to have asked for $26,984 more than
their 1910 grants; appointive boards
and offices asked $54l, 1888 more than
they received from the last legis-
lature, miscellaneous purposes Of
government demanded $66,691 more
than they got in 194O and state Gus
todial institutions sought $500, 089
more than they received two, years
ago.
The publication said the grand to-
tai of requests made of the 1889 leg
islature was S7,l96,543, of which
81, I'll, 1913 actually was appropriated
and S4,773,944 actually was spent.
The magazine commented that most
state agencies nearly always asked
for considerably more money than
they needed or expected to get. It
also commented that some state of
flclals apparently feared that il they
did not spend their entire appropria-
tons each biennium, their allot-
ments next time might be reduced,
and SO deliberately tried to get rid
of their appropriations in order not
to have balance at the end of the
period.
The associations analysis Of the
1910 general fund showed it had
received $5,365,7l8.62 and actually
disbursed $5,O63, $500.
OF the funds income, 34.3 per
cent, or s1,957, 657.76 came from
liquor excise profits and liquor Ii
censes. The beer license and tax
contributed 100000; county taxes.
S657 ,086.35, state fees, $598, 459. AZ;
corporation licenses, $5l5,9l2.6O:
university group fees, $3.50, 1865 90;
fees from other institutions, $751;
683. 40, income taxes, $271, 4o3. 13;
chain store taxes, $121,l70; coal
production tax, Sl08, 297.5l; inherit
ance taxes, $93,599.1O; metal mines
tax, $82,00856, and miscellaneous
sources, $257, 824.82.
Disbursements from the fund, the
taxpayers association reported, were
as follows.
Public welfare (relief) S2,00I 900.
custodial and penal institutions, ST.
100, $1,000; boards, commissions and
departments, $749,75910, Greater
University fees, S358,043.31; elective
offices, $l83, 1896; water conserva-
ton, S222,076.04; judicial depart
ments, $226,64575; and miscellane-
Gus expenses, S161, 691.96.