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Show Wants Simpler System Local government should be simplified sim-plified in the interest of economy of operation, says Governor Roosevelt Roose-velt of New York. He points out, that of the twelve or thirteen billion bil-lion dollars collected annually by the federal, staXe and local governments govern-ments more than one-half is required re-quired by the latter. He says: "li is manifest that inasmuch as the cost of local government constitutes consti-tutes the major portion of our aggregate ag-gregate tax bill, we must, if we. hope for lower taxes or less rapid increase in taxes, analyze local government gov-ernment and see if its workings may not be simplified and made less expensive for the taxpayers." Discussing this problem Governor Gover-nor oosevelt added: "Recently a comprehensive study of this problem was made in the State of orth Carolina. The conclusion con-clusion reached in the report of that survey is that a radical reorganization reor-ganization of local government is needed. It is intimated, that county government is obsolete and that the county as a unit of ad-ministraion ad-ministraion may well be eliminated. It is conceded that it will take time to secure majority support for hat proposal, and in the meantime mean-time it is urged that counties be consolidated and a greatly simplified simpli-fied form of county government be set up to replace present sumber-some sumber-some forms and many officials. The report of a simlar study in New Jersey reaches substantially the same conclusion. "I am quite convinced that the excessive cost of local government can most effectively be reduced by simplifying the local governmental organization and structure and by reallocating the responsibility for performing various services, according ac-cording to a logical analysis rather than by accident or tradition. 1 think we need to consider each service and decide what administrative adminis-trative unit and what size unit can most effectively and economically perform that service. The smaller units of rural government are so unequal in wealth that some are unable to maintain satisfactory roads and schools even with excessively exces-sively high tax rates, while- others, with very low rates, are able to spend generously and even extravagantly. extrav-agantly. All overlapping of local jurisdiction should be abolished. I incline to agree with those who hold that one or at least two layers of local government subordinate to the sovereignty of the State is adequate and that we ought seriously ser-iously to undertake the radical reorganization re-organization and reallocation of functions necessary to accomplish the elimination of all others. "There remains to be mentioned another remedy for the excessive cost of local government, the controlling con-trolling of local expenditures by State or district authority, it is lamiliarly referred to as the 'Indiana 'Indi-ana plan.' In that State 100 or more taxpayers in a tax district may appeal to the State Tax Commission Com-mission from the local budget or irom a proposed bond issue. After Af-ter hearings the State Tax Commission Com-mission may reducs the proposed appropriation or the amount for which bonds may be issued, ot eliminate the item altogether. "Much can be said in favoi- of this method of controlling local expenditures. ex-penditures. It has passed beyond the experimental stage in Indiana, and the information before me indicates in-dicates it is .supported by public sentiment. Colorado and New Mexico nave modified forms of the Indiana plan. Ohio, Oklahoma, and Oregon have adopted the idea, but the control is exercised through district boards. This general method meth-od of controlling the excessive cost of local government is worthy of consideration by the authorities cf every state." |