The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-01-12


the rule Of valuation, and taxation ac
cording to value. But this was nc
small merit, and IL was enhanced by the
introduction Of uniform system Of
levies for oil purposes, both State and
local, and Of a provision for the oquali.
zation of valuation as between indi.
viduals, by county Boards, and as be.
tween counties by a State Board Of
Equalization Both in substance, still
make parts Of our revenue system.
II will be admitted, of course, that
the valuation directed and made under
the act Of 1925 affords no satisfactory
measure Of the actual wealth Of the
State at that time. It has, however,
some claim to attention even in that
view, and it has higher interest as the
practical result of the FIRST attempt to
ascertain, however defectively, a true
basis for the equitable apportionment
Of public burdens among the citizens.
The whole number Of acres subject to
taxation, returned by the assessors, was
10, l43,309; the average value per acre,
as equalized by the Board of Equaliza-
ton, was S247; the total value Of lands
was S3T714,225; of town lots, i87, ,321, 70
034; in all S45,O35, ,259.
The act of 1925 fixed no period for
a second general valuation. The ap-
praisement made under it was to remain
unaltered until further legislation
The county assessors, however, we're re-
quired to ascertain in the spring Of
each year, what land had become liable
to taxation during the preceding year,
and what new permanent improvements
had been made by structures on lands
The value of this land and these i'm
provements, annually ascertained by
the assessors, together with that of all
taxable personal property, computed ac-
cOrding to arbitrary rates fixed by law,
added annually to the equalized value
Of the real property, was to constitute
the Grand List, and form the basis of
taxation for the current year.
Thus, in 1926, the valuation perma-
nently settled by the Board of Equali-
zation, with the valuations in the spring
Of lands recently become taxable, of
new improvements, and Of personally,
constituted the first Grand List under
the act, upon which were to be assessed
the necessary levies for State, County
and Township purposes. The value of
lands was S39729,4l1; the value Of
town lots and personal property was
18,474,5O7.
Important changes in the laws rela-
ting to taxation were introduced in 1881.
An act of that year enlarged very con-
siderably the descriptions of taxable
reduced the list of exemp-
tions, and extended the application of
the principle of appraisement and pro-
pOrtioned contribution. 1t did not dis
turb, however, the valuation of real
equalized in 1925, and it still
retained, in some of its applications, the
principle of arbitrarary valuation by
the legislature.
At length, after a lapse of nine years,
a revaluation Of all real property was
directed by the legislature in 1884; was
made the same year and was equalized
in 1885. The property revalued consist
ed Of the descriptions made taxable by
The act of 1892 for the act directing the
'evaluation had made no change in the
subjects of taxation.
The result exhibited striking in
crease. The equalized value Of the
ands and town lots was S73, ,932 $50
The Grand List of 1885, embracing this
increased by the usual spring
amounted, exclusive of four
counties, whose returns had not been
to sos, ,O27, 396. In nine years
he value of taxable property had in
creased S37, ,452, ,889.
A third valuation was made in 1910,
md was equalized in 184l. The sub
iects of valuation were still defined by
he act of 1881. The equalized valua-
ion was S09, ,154,745. The Grand List
or 184l, embracing this valuation and
he additions for real estate aud person
i property, made in the spring Of that
ear, was S128,353,6 ,657. The increase in
i've years had been S32, ,426,261.
A thorough revision Of the laws con-
orning taxation took place in 1876
Important additions were made TO the
descriptions Of taxable property; ex-
mptions were restricted and defined
18th greater precision; rules Of ap-
raisement were prescribed with a view |
D ensure a closer approximation Of |
aluation to valuej the principle Of ac-
nal appraisement was for the FIRST time |
pplied to all objects of taxation to
hich, in the nature of things, it was |
pplicable; clear directions were given
)r the annual listing and valuation of |
.nds becoming taxable for the FIRST
me, Of improvements, and Of all per-
1nal property a new valuation of all |
sal property was directed, aud provis-
N was made for future valuations in
very sixth year
The FIRST general valuation required
y this act, being the fourth in the
hole series, was made in 1876, and
as equalized the same year. The in
lenco Of the wise provisions Of the
ow law was conspicuous in its results,
hioh for the frst time approximated,
lough still remotely, the actual value
the real property in the State. The
llue Of that description of property,
oqualized, was 1924 495 ,8O4.
The Grand List Of l847, embracing
lis equalized valuation, the spring
,luatiou Of personal property amount
.g to S83, ,964, ,43O, and the other usual /