The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-09-11
The Taxes-How IL II!

The Democratic leaders are put to their
wits, when they strive to make the people
belive that their State taxes have been in
creased this year, by tho Republican State
Administration, when the fact is, they have
been actually reduced, taking the whole
State togther, 'fve cents on the hundred
dollars valuation!" Nevertheless, they still
repeat the charge, and the last "dodge" by
which they attempt to substantiate 1t, u.s.
that the assessed valuation of real estate
has been increased. Here again, however,
the facts show the entire falsity of their as
sertions. The total value of the real estate
of the whole State has not been increased
one dollar, and there uiA not, therefore, be
any increased amount of taxes to be paid;
but, instead thereof, an actual reduction OF
give cents on each $500 valuation!" But
still the Bugle has the efrontery to pretend
that the taxpayers of Pottawattamie Coun-
ty have had their taxes raised thirty-seven
and half per cent. by the State Board of
Equalization. False again, as We will show
in few words.
The County Board of Equalization, Mt its
session last April, reduced the valuation Of
town property, fifty per cent, and Of Coun-
ty property, THAT is land not laid out in town
lots, }tucmty: fire per cent. When the State
Board came to net upon our County assess
ment, it raised the valuation on County
property, above that fixed by our County
Board, htirty-seren per cent, and left town
property as it was. This brought back the
value of County property about where it
stood last year, but left town property at the
reduced rate Of fifty per cent. BELOW 1857.
Now, let US see how the action of the
County and State Boards will affect the
amount of taxes to be paid.
Suppose farm in the County was assess
ed last year $1,000 90
The County Board reduced this to.......... 800 90
The State Board raised 81 per cent? that is to 1898 90
which is tho actual amount upon which tax
es must be paid in 1858, being 1888 ADORE
the assessed value of 1851. But, says the
Bugle, the taxes are reduced "fve cents on
the hundred dollars!" Very we'll, so be it..
Then, the farmer, whose land was assessed
at $1,000 in 1857, and 1928 in 1858, ,cill
pan Just sIxrY-oNE CENTS AND SIX MILLS
LESS TAX this year than last. DO you
call that increasing the taxes?
Then, as to town property, the difference
in taror of 1858, will be still greater. In
1857, House and Lot assessed ut $1,000, is
this year REDUCED to $500. That takes
off one half the tar to start with. Then the
reduction of five cents on the dollar, takes
of 80 cents more, and, consequently, the
tax on town property will be that much be-
lo,c one half the tar paid in 1857. Or, in
other words, the man who paid n State tax
last year of So 90 on his town property, will
pay just 81 20 this gear. A pretty fair
reduction, we should say.
And so ends the pretencc that the Repub-
licans have increased the taxes to be paid
in 1858, over that of 1857. Like all the
rest of the charges brought against the Re-
publican State Administration, it is utterly
destitute of truth. The "full force" of the
Buglers will have to try some other "dodge."
Farmers can't DO fooled by such stories Us
that,