The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1962-11-30
Let Not the 'ConfUsionisfs' Bec|oUd
Your Good Judgment!


confront the people of Montana in the chilly months of Jan
uary February There indications that man-mad
Snow job of monumental proportions is in the making;
snow job which has its goal the enactment of either
General Sales Tax the almost equally regressve Gross
Income Tax.
pointed repeatedly these columns present
of the State treasury woeuly inadequate
meet the appropriations for the schools the cuso
dias the university system and various other divisions OF
By best estimates obtanabe at least $24 million
must be found for the coming bennum.
Barring possibility 88th Congress will enact
form of school equalization legislation there four
which additional can
be secured:
Drastcally higher property taxes greater
emphasis local responsibility in financing public education
Upward revision of Montanas exceedingly low schedule
of personal income tax rates.
Enactment of a per Tax suggested
by Dean Chaffns School Foundation Study Committee
Enactment of LIS per gross be levied
in addition to the present personal income tax This proposal
first drafted by the Commission of
brought back to life suggested General
Sales Tax, by the Chaffn committee.
committees proposals. as shown by fig
in the report either the Sales Tax the Gross Income
Tax would raise between $24 and $27 million bennum.
By doubling the State Income Tax frequently proposed
by this publication essentially the
be obtained There would however be big difference The
graduated income tax predcated the ability pay
whereas the does not hold for either the General Sales
Tax or the Gross Income Taxi Both of the latter reeve
and bear hardest those LEAST ABLE TO PAY
The Chaffn Committee, estimating General Sales
looks with favor such because sit easy pay
little at time)" and sit cheap to collect The committee
further rationazes that fairness taxation be achieved
because the of the sales be offset by
the OF the income tax In laying the ground
work for popular acceptance of the sales member of
the family of taxes the committee effect puts it's of
approval the premise that family it is permissible
for there to be at least one black sheep.
The committee makes particular effort justify enact
ment of Gross Income Tax Rather the committee simply
points out how this type of tax to collect t
Unateraby disagreeng those including the State
Chamber of Commerce. who would saddle the people of Mon
carry, examples will suffice show why believe
the Legislature should veto either the General Sales Tax
the Gross Income Tax proposals. and instead should rely
upward revision the State the principal
of needed additional &o''fd L
Assuming the Committees $28.26 to be reasonably
rect cent General Sales Tax would each
and every Montanan annually the following estimates would
increased BURDEN sales doubled
income tax:
Retired couple maximum Social Security: A two per
cent sales tax would levy upwards of sixty dollars
about SIS month An increased income tax would add nothing
since there would be no taxable income
Family of four, with $4,000 annual incomes two
cent would levy S13 addition the average
state income tax of $2 Total 1925, just $40
month doubled income tax would bring the total tax
the State in this bracket S24 month
Family of four, with Montana median of SIS 400:
two sales tax would levy $1,000 in addition to
approximately $2 state income tax $11 month
doubled income tax would amount to $42, $3.50 month
Family five, with above income of 81 600:
sales would take $14130 plus your
The Man Who DOES NOT Read TT