The fiscal problem in Missouri

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1833271335

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-230042

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: The fiscal problem in Missouri

Place of publication:: New York

Publisher:: National Industrial Conference Board, Inc.

Year of publication:: 1930

Scope:: xvi, 359 S.

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter XII. Other aspects of the Missouri fiscal problem

Collection:: Economics Books

326 THE FISCAL PROBLEM IN MISSOURI in the budget or in excess of any additional expenditure without first giving notice to the taxpayers and affording them the opportunity to appeal. In addition, they are liable to the municipal corporation for the amount of the excess appropriated, the costs, and a penalty of 25%, of the excess appropriation, recoverable by a suit instituted in the name of the State of Indiana. In its simplest terms the Indiana system is based on local initiative. Although local initiative cannot always be relied on, the mere fact that an appeal may be made acts as a deterrent against excessive or unusual increases in the bud- gets. Although the Indiana law reposes final authority in the State Board of Tax Commissioners, it should be noted that it can take action only on appeal by taxpayers. In reality, then, the Indiana system involves central control through local initiative. A system similar to the Indiana system would no doubt be reasonably effective as a means of local expenditure con- trol in Missouri. However, it might be opposed on the ground that a comparatively small number of taxpayers might succeed in reducing expenditures for certain functions that the majority of taxpayers were willing to approve. Oppo- sition to the plan on that basis would not be entirely valid, since adequate reasons must be presented by the petitioners before definite action is taken by the central authorities. Furthermore, all those affected in any way have a right to voice their objections at the public hearing held subsequent to the filing of the petition by the taxpayers. Unfortunately, economy in the financing of local govern- mental functions is not so easily achieved as in the financing of business enterprise. During the present century vertical and horizontal consolidations in industry have been common. If it were recognized that similar results could be obtained by consolidating smaller governmental divisions and insti- tuting effective systems of budgetary and expenditure con- trol, it should be possible at least to hold the cost of local government within reasonable limits.

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