The people's voice., 1958-06-20
T-E Commission Sees 7959-61 Budget Sooring--
Continued From Page One)

Continued From Page One)
meet such state obligations as uni
versity millage, outstanding state
bond issues Warm Springs, Boulder)
and to provide the states share of
the school equalization fund, accord
ing to stockgrowers.
while this was under discussion
commission member Sen. Charles Ma
honey, longtime member of Senate
Finance and Claims committee, point
ed out that if state property taxes
were to be replaced by some other
form of tax, and to meet the greatly
increasing budgetary needs in COM
ing years, it would be necessary to
enact sales tax Of three to three
and one-half per cent. Mahoney said
he doubted if the 1859 Legislature
would pass any kind of general sales
tax; that if it did, the tax "would be
made imperative by referendum ac-
tion'' in fraction of the time-sev-
eral months-it took the liquor deal
ers to knock out the added eight per
cent excise last year,
Admitting the commission is UP
against some difficult suggested
solutions in the tax field, Chairman
Dave Manning asked that all citi-
zens' groups get their tax recon-
mendations into his commission as
soon as possible, so that these may
be given consideration when his
study body begins drafting recon-
mendations to the Governor.
ECONOMY NEEDED
More efficient, economical opera
ton of various divisions of govern
ment comes up at every meeting of
the commission and undoubtedly there
will be recommendation on this when
the commission makes it's final report
to the Governor late this fall.
And, again, attention on this was
focused in particular on the highway
and fish and game departments which |
operate largely under earmarked |
funds. Concensus of the commission |
continues to be that these two de-
partments in particular could mate
rally reduce operating costs by more
efficient administration.
AS at past meetings, too, consider
able concern was again expressed |
over the apparently large number of
state-owned cars, filled with state
supplied gasoline, put to private use.
of state motor pool,
as means of securing more control
over usage of state cars, may be rec
commended in the commissions final
report.
The interstate highway system and
its removal of about 40 acres per
mile of agricultural land for right-of
way purposes drew forth much COM
ment on whether the most sensible {
practices had been OBJ
served in locating the system, partic-
ularly U. S. 10, in valley bottom
lands. Several commission members
expressed the opinion that with the
exception of few major traffic !
areas, Montana not only can't af-
ford, but does not need four-lane
highways at this time, and for some
lime to come. !
CONSOLIDATION TALKED
Still another field where sub
stantial savings may be possible is
consolidation of related state de- I.
partments into single agencies,
Examples were given which showed: =
l. Administration of laws cover !
ng the EGG is divided up between E
It least three departments. :
2. Ditto, the cow. L
3. Ditto, labor, with Department v
# Labor, an Industrial Accident g
Board and an Unemployment Com
'ensation Commission administering d
major legislation relating to employees. n
Each such agency has head. vary v