Gadsden County Times

LAWMAKERS SEEK LIGHT ON SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT STATE TAXES

Want Expressions from Citizens Before Call of Special Session

Gadsden county's legislative delegation has prepared a list of questions which are designed to plumb the feeling of the citizens on the issue of state taxes and the appropriation bill passed at the recent legislative session.

Feeling that a special session will be called in the near future Senator A. L. Wilson, Rep. Dewey Johnson and Rep. Edgar Scarborough, have drawn up a few questions, the answers to which they deem will give them a good idea of what the people want before they are called back to Tallahassee.

The first question on the list is: "Do you want a sales tax?"

No doubt this question was included in the questionnaire because the legislators are of the opinion that when the special session is called an effort will be made to pass such a tax.

The next question is: "Do you believe the state needs additional revenue at this time?"

Question number three is: "Do you feel that the universities in the state will continue to increase their enrollments? If so do you favor providing an extensive building program in order to obtain better facilities?"

The next question is: "Do you favor additional taxes to carry out the 1949 appropriation bill of $240,342,546?"

Having the various departments of state government divided as to their proportionate costs of the total appropriation bill, the legislators next ask: "Do you favor increases on certain items, answer yes or no following each sub-head?"

"General government (3.5% of total)."

"Education (56.7% of total)."

"Health (8.2% of total)."

"Welfare (19.2% of total)."

"Protection to persons and property (6.8% of total)."

"Conservation and development of state resources (5.2% of total)."

"Emergency, all departments and agencies $1,000,000 (0.4% of total)."

Other questions are as follows:

"Do you favor increasing drivers licenses to finance additional highway patrolmen? What increase do you favor, $.25, $.50, $1.00?"

"Do you think properly managed central purchasing will be a saving to the state?"

"In case you grant that additional taxes are needed what taxes would you suggest?" Also what total amount of taxes would you be willing to help pay to obtain additional services as recommended in the 1949 appropriation bill?

The above list of questions is to be issued in questionnaire form and distributed through civic clubs and other organizations throughout the county.

Those wishing to do so are invited by the county's lawmakers to use the list as it appears herein and provide them with your answers to the various questions as set forth.