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REMARKS BY
GOVERNOR PARRIS BRYANT
TO THE
NATIONhL TAX ASSOCIATION
HIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA
(For Release after 1:00 P.M., September h, 1962)
You honor me by the invitation which has brought me here
today, as you honor Florida by your presence. Speaking as the
representative of all of the peOple of our state I take great pleasure
in welcoming you and expressing our gratitude that you have chosen
Florida as the site for your convention.
I am grateful, too, for the opportunity you have afforded
me to pay a special tribute to one of your members: The Honorable
Ray 8. Green, Comptroller of the State of Florida. Today we see his
in the role of genial host, seeking to provide you with everything
needed to make your visit a pleasant one. I assure you this is not
his usual attitude. More often he can be found shaking his head over
a proposed expenditure or cautioning us to out the cloth of our
expenditures to fit the pattern of our financial structure.
Ray Green is the watchdog of the people of Florida. He is
the conscience of the Cabinet of our state on fiscal affairs and he
is second to none in his effectiveness as an administrator. Much of
the progress that Florida has enJoyed has been a product of his
skilled leadership. In Florida a Governor may not succeed himself,
but our elected Cabinet officers may. That Comptroller Green will
continue in office gives me great satisfaction, because his presence
is my assurance that the progress we have made for Florida during this
and previous administrations will be used as a foundation for the
future.
We are today gathered in one of the foremost resorts of the
world, situated on a strip of golden sand which to millions symbolizes
pleasure and relaxation. This is the symbol of a Florida known far
and wide -- a Florida which this year will welcome more than 15
million citizens of the world and provide for them fun and sun in both
quantity and quality elsewhere unequaled.
Yet Just a few miles away is the space center of the free
world -- Americas stepping-stone to the noon. From these golden
shores man has leaped into space; from this moon-port some 20th
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Century Columbus will set said for a new world. For the first
Columbus Isabella sold her Jewels. For the next one I doubt that there
are enough Jewels in the world, nor enough gold in Fort Knox. Our
President has committed us to spend 20 billion dollars, and with that
expenditure a new laboratory of space is being created.
Around this vast new laboratory a new industrial world is
being built. No smoke stains the sky, no sludge taints the rivers,
but industry grows. It uses a raw material that is both new and old,
both plentiful and rare. Not coal, from miners toiling under ground!
Not iron ore, from vast pits scarring the earth! Not oil, nor gold,
nor even uranium -- but brains. Precious, creative, self propogating
brains.
Here in Florida, on the threshhold to space, a new type or
industry is being created, in which the worker uses a transistor
instead of a transformer, s computer instead or a steel tape,
electricity instead or muscle.
A few weeks ago an announcement was made that Martin-
Marietta, with 10,000 employees located at Orlando. will produce the
latest and largest space vehicle. In a very short time, perhaps today
or tomorrow, an announcement will be made or a major new space age
operation employing several thousand highly skilled people to be loca
located in Florida. We have come of age, industrially, at the most
exciting time in industrial history.
But Florida has other faces as well. It is a booming
agricultural state -- the winter market-basket of the nation -- with
new gains daily recorded in every agricultural pursuit from the
raising of prime-quality cattle to the development of new and better
strains or tobacco to the planting of new sugar-cane acreage.
In Florida today we must meet a diversity of need and
stimulate continued growth on many economic fronts. It is an exciting
challenge, and a demanding one which enables us to share, to a
greater or lesser degree, most or the problems felt by our sister
stateS.
Our tax structure is geared to this economic development
and rapid population growth. It is administered under a conservative
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philosophy which demands the maximum return for each taxpayer's
dollar expended. This combination has enabled us to keep pace with
our growth and remain solvent without the imposition of any major new
taxes since 19kg, when a limited three per cent sales tax was imposed
by our Legislature. The nature of this achievement becomes more
significant when we note that in the period since 19h9 we have risen
from 20th to ninth among the states in size.
The space age has thrust upon Florida opportunities un-
paralleled in the history of any state, and demands for services
increasing the responsibilities of nearly every activity of govern-
ment which, I suspect, is likewise unparalleled.
Thousands of acres of once-barren land have blossomed forth
in colorful homes -- homes which house people who must have highways,
educational opportunities, recreation facilities and a host of other
services from local, county or state governments.
Along with the demands created by new homes and businesses,
we have seen a drastic rise in revenues from our consumer-oriented
taxes. During the fiscal year 1951-52 Florida's general fund
received $55 million from sales and use tax collections alone. Last
fiscal year the total was $181 million and we expect this revenuew
to reach $19 Million this year.
Florida has a gasoline tax which is used in the construction
of state and czun'y roads. The revonue from this source totaled
$62,900,000 in 1981-52 and reached nearly $128 million last fiscal year.
TLe state tax on alcoholic beverages produced $27,300,000
in the first Fiscal year of the fifties and is now contributing
better than $50 million dollars a year -- a figure which with a new
program of vigorous beverage law enforcement will continue to raise
substantially. The sale of motor vehicle licenses in 1951-52 totaled
$2u,2oo,ooo and last year, as vehicle ownership in Florida climbed
beyond the three million mark, produced $53,800,000.
Another source of avenue which. like our population, has
doubled, is the cigarette tax, which produced $17,800,000 in 1951-52.
Last year it tdaled $35 million.
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These are our major sources of general revenue in Florida.
geared by wise legislative action to the spending of our residents
and visitors.
That Florida is today prospering as never before is proof
that our basic needs can be met adequately by sound administration of
the sort provided by Ray Green and my other colleagues of the Cabinet.
In Florida we are meeting the challenge of the space age.
We cannot move as rapidly as we would like in many areas, and we never n
will be able to do so, but we are finding that with imagination and
ingenuity we can accomplish much of that which in the past has been
equated only with money and then more money.
In the field of higher education, for example, we have a
thirst for knowledge on the part of our citizens that I think is
unequaled elsewhere in the world. Living, as we do, in the shadow of
the ganteries at Canaveral, with the Atlantic missile range stretching
away from our Atlantic coast and the Gulf range paralleling the state
from Eglin's launch pads at our Panhandle to the tracking stations
in the Keys on the South, there has arisen among our citizens, both
young and old, a hunger to learn the terms and techniques of this new
age.
we seek today to meet that thirst for knowledge. The two
new universities now underway and the third being planned are not
enough. Our Junior colleges system -- increased from 5tbc28 in 7
years -- must be expanded further to meet our needs.
We have established in our colleges the tri-mester system
on a state-wide basis for the first time anywhere in the nation --
anywhere in the world, so far as I know. We have done so because we
recognise the necessity for utilizing our educational facilities
to the utmost. We cannot each summer play sleeping here to the
plodding turtle and expect to stay ahead in the race for knowledge.
We are utilizing, too, educational television to a very
great extent. Although we now have the most complete system of ETV
that exists anywhere in the country, our goal is to create in Florida
a system which will enable everyone who wants to improve himself in
this state, wherever he lives and whatever his economic or social
condition, to find opportunity for that improvement. Through
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educational television, and through our new Institute for Continuing
Studies -- an expansion and many-fold improvement on the concept of
extension studies -- we are seeking to make all Florida a campus for
those who would learn, enabling us to spend our funds on the talent
and tools of teaching rather than for costly educational edifices.
As another example I offer our efforts in the field of
conservation and recreation. we have reversed the century-old trend
of disposing of our natural resources and have begun, not only to
hold on to what we still have, but to acquire even more. Not for
this generation, but for the next. Not for a population of five
million, but for a population of ten million. We are doing this
without expensive consultants, but rather with the skills possessed
by the several agencies of the state concerned with conservation, and
we shall finance their overall plan a step at a time, moving now,
before our only solution is a multi-million dollar plan and program
to reclaim that which was so quickly lost.
The wise utilization of our state funds is a day to day,
week to week task. Our insistence on compact, economy cars, for
state employees who must have an auto but need no high speed, high-
price models, makes a contribution. A demand for more rigid Justi-
fication of requested salary increases has cut down substantially
the number of those requests which have come before the Cabinet
Budget Commission.
We have been fortunate in having Ray Green to give us
guidance as we switched the investment of retirement funds from low
yield savings accounts into high yield, high quality corporate bonds.
This Judicious shift, which increased interest rates on these funds
beyond even our hopes, is a clear example of the benefits of sound
business practice applied to state government.
When I sought the office I now hold, it was on a platform
of economy and with a pledge of sound operation. There were those
who said then it couldn't be done -- that the demands of the state
were too great. Well, today we are meeting our needs, and yet the
operating expenses for state government in the fiscal year Just ended
were down more than $13 million over the preceding year. The cost
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of general government, which is comprised largely of the executive,
Judicial and legislative branches, was reduced by h.3 per cent.
1 know that Florida is not alone in the financial progress
it makes -- indeed, much of our prosperity rests upon the prosperity
of our sister states. We can all take pride, I think, in the fact
that in 1960 the states of the nation raised for governmental functions
$33 billion. yet spent only $31.5 billion. Too often we look at the
size of the budget of the federal government and forget that, except
for defense and foreign affairs, the state governments outdo the
federal government in providing for the needs of the people.
We forget, too, the tremendous contributions of local
government, which exist because created by the state. When these
revenues are combined with state revenues, exclusive or federal grants,
they total 353 billion for 1960.
For those upon whom there devolves the responsibility for
fiscal management there is cause for pride in the fact that the net
long term debt of these governments is only $62 billion, as compared
with the $300 billion direct obligation of the federal government.
The people of the nation ought not to lose sight of the fact that the
state and local governments have reservoirs of fiscal vitality which
a less responsible federal government has long since exhausted.
Florida's great financial problem is compounded from its
great blessing -- growth. We have been trying to carry the burdens
of the present and the future with only the earning power of the
present. The time may have come when, to continue to support our
growth and to keep our state as a mecca for those who seek a desirable
place in which to work, live and play while we evolve into an
industrial society, we will be well advised to adopt modern business
financial practices. We can build and pay as we use, letting each
decade and each generation make its own contribution.
Whatever financial strategem we devise, Florida must move
ahead.
Yes, it is in Florida today that the free world stands on
its tiptoes reaching for the moon. Our state has become the center
and the symbol 6f the nation's imagination and avidity. When this
decade's Columbus sets sail for new worlds, we are ready to risk
more than our Jewels on the voyage.
PAGE 1
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philosophy which demands the maximon return f'or each tazpayerle dollar expended. This combination has enabled us to keep pace wit o-ar grol-Ith arld rerr.ain solvelit without the imposition of any mjor taxc3 sjnce 1949, when a limited three per cent sales tax waa impo by our I.ecinhtro. The nattire of this achievement becomes more siersi rie:ent .:/--an we rica e that fri the period since 19h9 tve have ris frors EC:h tr. nir:15 amor the states in size, Thrgn-2 are has theust upon Florida opportunities ursparalleled 12 -.-ra bia':or'y or hay atate, and demanded for services increasing ta' roi:ensibilities of nearly every activity of government which, T sus,:eet, ir, likewise unparalleled. Thousands of itares of ener:-barren larid have blossemed foi in enlorful Maes .-hoi-.ee whieb house reople who must have highues edaeational or:portuniti:-la, recreation t'acil ities and a host of oths
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That Florida is today p that our bacia needs een be met a the sort provided by Ray Green an In Florida we are meeti We cannot move as rapidly as we w will be able to do so, but we are ir.genuity we can accomplish much equated only with money and then In the field of higher thirst for knywledge on the part unequaled elsewhere in the world. the canteries at Canaveral, with away from our Atlantic coast and froin Eglin'a launoh pads at our P in the Xeys on the south, there h rospering as never beCere is proof dequately by sound adninistration rf d my other colleagues or the cabloet. ng the challenge oC the space age. ould Itke in many areas, and we never finding that with Lmacination anr] of that Which in the past has been more money. education, for example, we have a Of our citizens that I think is Livirg, as we do, in the shadow of the Atlantic missile range stretching the GulC range paralleling the state panhandle to the tracking stations as noisen among nur citizens. both le seek today to meet that thirst for knowledge. The new universities now unde rway and the third being planned are nr enough, Cut junior colleges system -increased from 5 to.28 ir years -must be expanded further to meet our needs, Ue have established in our colleges the tri-mester syn on a state-wide basis for the first time anywhere la the nation anywhere in the world, so far as I know. We anye done so because reeagnize the neceselty for utilizing our educational faellities to the utmeat. We cannot each examer play sleeping bare to the ploddirg turtle and expect to stay Thead in the race for knowled le are utilizing, too, educational televlsion to a var ErEat eXtelt. AlthOugh We r,0W have the 408% COmplete System 00 that exista anywhere in the country, our goal is to create in 21 a system wh1eh will enable everyone who ennts to improve himself this state, wherever he lives and whatever his economic or socia condition, to Cind opportunity for that improvement. Through
PAGE 5
educational television, and through our new Institute for Continuing Studies -an expansion and many-fold improvement on the concept of extension studies -we see seeking to make all Florida a e ampus for those who would learn, enabling us to spend our funds on the talent and tools of teaching rather than for costly educational edifices. As another example I offer our efforts in the field of conservation and recreation, we have reversed the century-old trend of dlaposing of our natural resources and have begun, not only to hold on to what we still have, but to acquire even more, Not for this generation, but for the next. Not for a population of five million, but for a population of ten million, We are doing this without expensive consultants, but rather with the killed possessed by the several agencies of the state concerned with conservation, Tid we shall finance their overall plan a step at a tLme, moving now, before our only salution is a multi-million dallar plan and program to reclaim that which was so guickly lost. The wise utilization of our state funds is a day to day, weel to week task. Our insistence on aympact, economy ears, for state EmployeeS who MDBC have an auto but need no high Bpeed, highprice :nodels, makea a contribution. A lemand for more rigid Justification of requested salary increases has eut dywn substantially the number of those requests which have cyme before the Cabinet Budget Co1mission. We have been Cortunate in having Ray Green to give us guidance as we switched the investment of retirement funds frim law yield savings accounts into high yield, high quality corporate bonds. This judicious shift. which Incre:ssed internment rates on these funds beyond even our hopes, is a clear example of the benefits of sound business practice applied to state government. When I sought the office I now hold, it was on a platform of economy and with a pledge of sound aperation. There were those who said then it couldn't be done -that the demands of the state were too great. Well, today re are meeting our needs, and yet the operating expenses for state government in the fiscal year Just ended were down more than $13 m1]lion over the preceding year. The cost
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biloytsetol 31.5 1 .. ..... ... uge fte eea priced largely of the executs was reduced by 4.3 per cent. t alone in the financial pros sperity rests upon the proopt ake pride, I think, in the Eon t'aised for goveramental it .... .....s w cnriu
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