Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-11-06
HOW WILL STATE
SPEND SURPLUS
OF S5,OOO,OOO?
SPECULATION Is RIFE REGARD
ING IT'S DISPOSITION
BY LEGISLATURE

Montana will enter the coming b.
ennium July l, 1913 with q surplus Of
between $4,000 900 and IS. 00O. 900 in all
funds, q check Of capitol financial Of
fices reveals.
Speculation was rife concerning
what disposition the 1913 legislature
would make of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
1t would appropriate the full sum or
earmark 1t to pay off the states debt.
Well-informed financial officials
said the question OF soldiers bonus,
to be paid at the end Of the current
war, already was being discussed in
formally in some quarters and that 1t
virtually was certain some action IN
this connection would be proposed In
the legislature.
More For Highways
It also was conceded that several
state offices. notably the highway de-
partment, probably would ask for
larger appropriations for the 1943-
1915 biennium than they asked two
years ago. The highway departments
request, 1t was said, would be based
on the plea that reduced gasoline tax
revenues would make 1t impossible to
carry on the road maintenance pro-
gram without funds from other
sources.
Units of the Greater University had
q surplus of $50l 900 in the university
millage fund at the beginning Of the
current fiscal year. This amount may
not, under state law. be expended
during the current year but must re-
main in the millage fund for reap
preparation by the legislature.
At the same time. however. indica-
tons were that some university units,
notably the State university, would ask
for larger appropriations than for the
current biennium despite enrolment
drops from Is an So percent. The ad-
ditional money, 1t was understood.
would be asked to finance repairs to
buildings.
Some fiscal officials speculated
whether the legislature would set
aside the surplus for payment Of
bonds as they mature or would ear
mark the entire sum for payment Of
postwar expenses, including possible
soldiers bonus. While none Of the var
ious veterans organizations, so far
as known, has proposed such a bonus,
possibility that they may do so was
given serious consideration in capitol
circles.
The states estimated surplus Of be-
tween 100000 and 100000 was the
result of larger tax collections, in
Guiding many thousand dollars Of de-
lnquencies; the $4,000 Greater Uni
versity surplus, and the 81 1000 the
state will receive in taxes on the
estate of the late Mrs. Marcus Daily Of
Hamilton.
Nearly all state offices and depart
ments were reported running well
within their budgets for the biennium
and, barring sudden and last-minute
spending spree, were certain to have
balances which would revert to the
general fund. These reversions, 1t was
believed, will more than offset the
expected deficiency appropriations for
the state hospital at Warm Springs
and other custodial institutions, whose
operation costs have climbed steadily
as result Of rising food and other ex-
penses not contemplated when their
appropriations were approved.
Whether the states surplus will be
closer to the 100000 than the
100000 mark it was said, will de-
pend upon whether revenues Of the
state liquor monopoly hold up. II
profits continue as during the last
year, the surplus probably will be close
to $4,000 900. There was no indication
that the revenue had been dropping.
Some financial experts predicted
that, as result Of the rapidly drop
ping cost of the state welfare depart
ment, due to greater employment, the
legislature may be asked to divert part
of the liquor monopoly income to
other activities. Currently, the bulk Of
the liquor revenue is turned over to
the welfare department.