Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas, Regular Session of the Fifty-Ninth Legislature, Volume 1 Page: 97
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1965
as to provide better opportunities for
recruitment and retention of skilled
personnel, as well as an increase in
the per diem travel allowance.
I further recommend salary adjust-
ments for the heads of departments
and for supervisors and doctors in the
state hospitals. If we are to recruit
and retain qualified professional staffs
in our state government, we must
make up our mind to adequately com-
pensate these skilled personnel to
achieve the purposes for which they
are employed. I recommend salary ad-
justments ranging from $500 to $4,-
500 a year in top administrative po-
sitions, and that the salaries of phy-
sicians in our state hospitals be in-
creased as much as $5,000.
XVI. MEDICAL AID
I recommended and supported the
expansion of the Kerr-Mills medical
aid program for the aged which was
approved by the voters last Novem-
ber. In my view, this program has
been eminently successful in Texas
and is the preferable approach to this
need.
However, since the entire procedure
of medical assistance to the aged
hinges on legislation now pending in
the Congress, no intelligent judgments
can be made on specific recommenda-
tions to implement the recent Con-
stitutional Amendment. I hope to deal
with this later in a special message.
XVII. COMMITTEE ON AGING
The Governor's Committee on Aging
has developed an effective program
of public education, coordination of
available services, and inter-agency
cooperation in the area of concern for
our aging population. With over 800,-
000 citizens over 65 and with this age
group increasing more rapidly than
any other, Texas has a definite re-
sponsibility in findings solutions to
their serious problems in housing, re-
duced income, increased leisure time,
and health.
A measure which will give the Gov-
ernor's Committee on Aging the con-
tinuity it must have for increased ef-
fectiveness in this important field has
been introduced. I urge its passage.
XVIII. REVENUE
It should be noted that my recom-
mendations for expenditures in the
coming biennium are within range of
the anticipated revenue certified by
the Comptroller. Including my teach-
er salary proposals, emergency needs
and budget recommendations previ-
ously submitted, the total for General
Revenue or General Revenue-affectedfunds is $646 million, compared with
the Comptroller's estimate of $633
million available during the biennium.
A table is attached to this message
detailing these proposals.
To balance the proposed budget, I
herewith recommend a one-cent in-
crease in the state cigarette tax, effec-
tive September 1, 1966, which would
produce $11 million the second year
of the biennium. I do so in full knowl-
edge that Texas has a high tax on
cigarettes, but all things considered,
I believe this is the most acceptable
and desirable means of raising the
small amount of revenue needed.
I recommend also the State and Lo-
cal Tax Policy Commmittee's sugges-
tion that the inheritance tax law be
changed to put a 15-month limitation
from date of death on the due date of
the state tax, as required by most
other states and the federal govern-
ment. This would result in a one-time
gain of $6 million.
Recapitulating my proposals con-
cerning abandonment of the state's
share of the ad valorem tax, I recom-
mend submission of a Constitutional
Amendment which would phase out
this tax over the next seven years-
allowing sufficient time for an orderly
transition.
Actually, the state has been aban-
doning this source of revenue over a
period of many years. Today it
amounts to only 2.7 per cent of our
revenue, compared with more than 75
per cent in 1915 and 33 per cent in
1930.
Under the plan proposed, the 50
tax for college buildings would be re-
pealed in 1967, the 20 tax for state
buildings and Confederate pensions
would be repealed in 1969, and the
35 tax for the Available School Fund
would be repealed in 1971.
This is a tangible way to put mean-
ing in our plea for more local self-
government. All problems are state
problems, but many of them can be
solved in our counties and cities if
their officials assume responsibilities
exceeding any yet required, and if we
at the state level allow local govern-
ments more freedom to correct prob-
lems which primarily concern local
areas.
XIX. EXECUTIVE BUDGET
Throughout this message I have re-
ferred to the Executive Budget mailed
to you in December in accordance
with the Constitution and laws. If you
have not studied this budget in de-
tail, I urge you to do so. I assure youI
97
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Texas. Legislature. Senate. Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas, Regular Session of the Fifty-Ninth Legislature, Volume 1, legislative document, 1965; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth145996/m1/97/: accessed May 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.