Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1941-09-18
That Mounting Surplus

In his message the Ohio General Assembly at the
beginning the year. Governor Bricker observed that
the time to pay debts is when you nave the money 10
do it.
Why isn't that sound doctrine being applied?
The state and its subdivisions have outstanding
notes and bonds The state has idle money in its
treasury which isn't being used, which isn't earmark-
ed any purpose Why not use this money to reduce
the public debt, and save interest charges?
The same taxpayers who contributing their dol
lars build up the mounting surplus In the state
also must contribute their dollars for interest
and principal payments the outstanding obligations
of their communities. This isn't sound economy 1t
is working an undue hardship on the taxpayers.
By the end of the present fiscal year Governor
Brcker will have between $15,000,O00 and S2O,OOO,-
600 which the state will have collected during the
current year from Ohio taxpayers in excess of the
states current needs.
Governor Brcker answers demands for an immed-
late tax by saying that he wants to wait and
see what the situation will be next year But there
are other ways of easing the burden than by the
outright repeal of any of the statecollected taxes
Without repeating any state-collected tax the gov
ernor tighten the local tax burden by applying
this years surplus tax collections to the payment or
the outstanding obligations of the states subdivisions
He can give substantial relief to the cities and
ties bv returning part OF the money these commun
ties have paid the states oyerfowing Golfers,
after the remainder of the school foundation
fund deficit which has been accepted state obl-
CATION.
We have the money Let's it to pay our debts.
The foregoing editorial which appeared recent
ly in the Columbus Citizen. 1t reads like good busi-
ness sense We admire the person very much who
LAYS aside part his earnings and keeps his income
more than outlaythat is if his family does not
have to do without things actually needed. In other
words if the head of the family deprves his house
hold of necessities life in order that he build
up a surplus do not then consider his accumulated
surplus good business We realize that in many in
stances money and it is well to call halt,
but such halt necessarily call for general
blanket order, of such many localities
forced to do without funds they actually need.
Our county with it's small tax duplicate for
ample.
The writer recently heard Of our good business
men and large taxpayer, who realizes the handicap
under which this county is laborng because of the
scarcity of operating funds, make the statement that
he would favor extra tax levy in order that
money could be raised for the actual needs of the
countyno only for present needs, but to pay off OBJ
legations Of the past With the states surplus,
ira levy should not be necessary.
The governor of this state has his eye the White
House. But first he must be elected again as gov
The fact that he would in his speeches the
statement that he not only balanced the budget but
built up a surplus as WELL he figures would make good
campaign thunder. However do not believe that
he is going delude the people of his They
derstand.