REPORT STATE OF NEW YORK-DEPARTMENT OF EXCISE ALBANY, January 24, 1918 To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of New York: In accordance with the provisions of section 3 of the Liquor Tax Law, providing that "the State Commissioner of Excise shall make an annual report to the Legislature, on or before the second Monday in each year, which shall contain such statements, facts and explanations as will disclose the actual workings of the Liquor Tax Law in its bearings upon the welfare of the State, including all receipts and revenues collected under the law, and all expenses and disbursements incurred and also such suggestions as to the general policy of the State and such amendments of this law as the Commissioner shall deem appropriate," I have the honor to submit herewith the twenty-second annual report of this Department for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1917. Very respectfully, HERBERT S. SISSON, State Commissioner of Excise. TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT Revenue The expenses of the legal bureau for the year ending September 30, 1917, were $56,063.88, an increase of $7,790.49. This may be readily accounted for by the increased revenue from penalties and costs, which increased $101,475.77 over receipts of last year. Criminal fines decreased All night permits decreased Expenses of department decreased. $21,272 50 37,861 25 5,562 13 The decrease in revenue from certificates was $382,205.17, and the decrease in number of liquor tax certificates was 526. The rebates increased from $9,168.23 last year to $115,820.85, an increase of $106,652.52. The amounts received from search and seizure increased $971.71 over last year. The surplus of earnings of legal bureau, interest on temporary deposits and criminal fines, over total expense of Department, was $195,675.38. Number of excise indictments. Number of excise convictions. 427 1,464 [11] Financial Statement For Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1917 Balance on hand July 1, 1916... $41,073 92 341,826 25 $382,900 17 45,541 31 $337,358 86 Total expenses of Department for year ending 317,616 89 Balance July 1, 1917. $19,741 97 Total expenses of Department for certificate year ending September 30, 1917... $319,652 58 Total amount received from liquor tax certificates, transfers, fines, penalties, etc., for twelve months ending September 30, 1917... $20,747,508 56 County treasurers' fees.. 43,032 25 Leaving a net balance for the certificate year of. $20,704,476 31 The Excise Department has been in existence since May 1, 1896, a period of twenty-one years and five months. During that time it has collected the following amount of money, all drawn from the liquor traffic of the State: 1899-1900 October 1 to September 30... 1900-01 October 1 to September 30. 1901-02 October 1 to September 30. 1902-03 October 1 to September 30. 1903-04 October 1 to September 30. 1904-05 October 1 to September 30. 1905-06 October 1 to September 30. 1906-07 October 1 to September 30... 1907-08 October 1 to September 30. 1908-09 October 1 to September 30. 12,622,957 79 12,467,674 40 12,511,368 71 *17,741,257 45 17,879,635 52 18,197,905 60 18,719,323 85 19,057,236 44 †8,044,537 27 18,005,493 58 * By the provisions of chapter 115 of the Laws of 1903, liquor tax rates were increased fifty per cent., in effect April 2, 1903. By the provisions of chapter 144 of the Laws of 1908, the beginning of the certificate year was changed from May 1st to October 1st, to correspond with the fiscal year of the State. Under this amendment, the excise tax collected May 1, 1908, was for only five-twelfths of one year, which explains the apparent decrease in revenue. By the provisions of chapter 672 of the Laws of 1915, liquor tax rates were increased twenty-five per cent., in effect October 1, 1915. Three-fifths of the revenue from liquor tax certificates shall be paid to the State Treasurer and two-fifths to the fiscal officer of the city or town in which the traffic was carried on and from which such revenue was received. |