State 



ing 



MONEY? 



most vital municipal services. How completely any munici- 

 pality has explored that possibility I, of course, am not pre- 

 pared to state." 



The Illinois Taxpayers Federation feels that the state 

 could use a little of this advice itself. The Federation be- 

 lieves that the state can do a better job of cutting costs and 

 could do better with less. The Taxpayers Federation is con- 

 vinced that the crying need at present is for a comprehensive 

 study by an outside organization of all phases of state gov- 

 ernment for greater economy and greater efficiency. 



In spite of this, it cannot be ignored that the upkeep 

 of our state institutions, even at their pre-war level, costs 

 us far more because of higher prices. Besides, virtually all 

 of our state institutions have more inmates than they did in 

 1939. 



To show how the cost of operation of state institutions 

 has increased since before the war, let's take" the University 

 of Illinois for example. It cost the Illinois taxpayers $5,- 

 357,427 to operate in 1939. The appropriation for 1948-49 

 (two years) was $43,083,818. 



During the war state spending dipped slightly as repairs 

 and construction of roads and buildings were postponed. 



STATE of ILLINOIS 

 EXPENDITURES Cl925-*497 



IN MILLIONS OF DOLLAR.^ 

 if- '48 dad. "49 *K6 budget -figure^ 



* 



'■18 



'i9- 



•-*0j4 



M. 



■3i\ 



■■r*t 



••'■'§? -XT • 



.40 



Where The 1947 State Dollar 

 Went . . . 



(Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1947) 



The pent up need for better roads, new and improved build- 

 ings is now with us at tremendously inflated costs. Some 

 of this work must be done now in spite of high costs. What 

 isn't absolutely necessary is being postponed further. 



From the chart on this page you will notice that more 

 than half of all the money spent by the state is for welfare 

 and school purposes. For welfare, 341/2 cents out of every 

 dollar spent; for education, 17% cents. Perhaps these funds 

 could be spent more efficiently but there is little likelihood 

 that spending for schools and welfare can be reduced much 

 without hurting our educational system and without increas- 

 ing the distress of the aged, widows and or- 

 ■'■',' 'C phans, and the institutional patients. 



To you who vote on state bond issues 

 it should be pointed out that interest on the 

 state debt alone in 1947 cost the taxpayers 

 of Illinois nearly four million dollars. In- 

 terest payments in the next several years 

 will be much higher due to payment of the 

 Illinois veterans' bonus. 



Where does the money come from to 

 pay these increasing costs of state govern- 

 ment and will they remain steady sources of 

 income.' In 1947 more than half of the 

 state income came from the sales tax, $139,- 

 945,578, and from taxes and licenses on 

 motor vehicles and motor fuel, $79,373,434. 

 Of the taxes on motorists two-thirds of 

 the gasoline tax is returned to your local 

 government. It is doubtful that the income 

 from these sources will remain anywhere 

 near these levels if there is a business reces- 

 sion. When that time comes, the state will 

 find it necessary to curtail expenditures dras- 

 tically or find new sources of income. 



State authorities have pointed many 

 times to the fact that Illinois does not have a 

 state property tax or a state income tax. 

 {Continued on page 22) 



2fiO 



2P0 



U20 



SEPTEMBER. 1948 



