Hungry Horse news., 1955-01-07
Need for Tax Reforms

We listened to Governor j. Hugo Aronsons
message to the legislature Tuesday afternoon over
the radio. 1t started with the usual: "We can and
must substitute business for politics" and "Good
government IN order to survive has to be honest
government" All of agree, and we often hear
such sentiments from public office holders
Then the governor dug in. He pointed out to
the legislature that there were some major nequal-
tiles in the tax structure Now it will be interesting
to see if the gentlemen sent to Helena take
hold OF such knotty problem and do some good.
The governor praised the State Board of Equal
ization for doing an improved job in closing tax
evader loop holes.
The governor continued that gas tax refunds
for 1854 farm machinery amounted to So, ,358219
compared to the total farm machinery declared
worth the whole state of $85,058470 The ratio
of gas tax refund to declared ownership ranged from
16 per cent in Chouteau county to high of % per
cent in Deer Lodge county Our thought is that Deer
Lodge apparently has numerous $25 tractors burning
up barrels of gas.
Governor Aronson asked: "Does anyone think
the value of non-irrgated tillabe land has dropped
from $13 per acre in 1929 to $8.37 in 1854? Would
you think the value of this type of land in Rosebud
county increased 38 per cent while in Wheatland
county it decreased II per cent?
The governor continued to point out inequalities
IN the tax structure over the state "Or do you sup
pose grazing land values dropped from $458 in 1929
to $266 acre in 1854 During that period, Still
water county grazing land increased in value per
cent while that in Wibaux county decreased 70 per
cent.
would you think the value Of household fur
niture and equipment averages less than $85 per
person in Montana. Would the people OF Liberty
county have average of $205 per person while in
Silver Bow county it is less than $22 per person?
''Why do the assessment rolls list only n per
cent of the cattle shown in the of 1854 and
only "a per cent of the sheep?"
The governors conclusion on this part of his
speech was "How can we allocate school and well
fare funds equtably the assessments vary in such
proportions as have listed, and these are but a
few examples"
He emphasized that neither he nor the State
Board of Equalization favored increased property
taxes What they wanted more uniform tax
base, such applies to automobiles. in Flat
head county has the same value for tax purposes
car in Missoula or Silver Bow county. When it
comes to tractor Hereford COW or refrigerator, a
Flathead resident may be paying taxes 81 900
valuation and Silver Bow resident $3.50.
There is no rhyme or reason in personal prop
erty assessment the state In the Fathead big
dam was built, and there were numerous families
them did not own real estate On the other hand a
number owned fine households of furniture We
remember federal official commenting "They
talk about federal employees not paying taxes.
'Next step is Flathead county assessors telling
that all my furniture is worth $780,.
Point is that the whole personal property struc-
ture needs statewide base that pays somewhat
more attention to true worth. There is other hon
est or 1alr way.
The Flathead and some of the other counties
during the postwar years have had reappraisals
and there is somewhat uniform base for valua-
ton of homes, businesses and real estate. Inequai
ties between counties show here An of grazing
land in the Flathead is apt to be valued higher than
acre of irrigated land in the Bitterroot.
The governors speech totaled nearly l6 type
written pages, double spaced, and brought out var
ious problems and suggested improvements.
In addition to taxes, there was the problems Of
school funds, need for revenue, (the governor i:
against sales tax), opinions on the development
of state lands in the Wliston basin and older Mon
tana oil fields and lastly the Importance of match
ing state funds with federal to build better high
ways.
The governor pointed out the Importance o.
expanding "our processing, manufacturing, trade
and tourist facilities Nor, should overlook the
vital Importance of good relations with neigh
bors in adjacent Canada and the states. We b<
thankful that the two great national parks, Glacier
and Yellowstone, are of such great benefit to on
economy"
governors opening message to legislature
always contains some paragraphs on facts and fig.
and others pleasantries.
1t will be interesting to see what the legisla-
ture of 1855 achieves. MF
A6