Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-02-13
ARTICLE
TAXATION AND FINANCE.

~ ILeStSil'u tt Sial pTOVlQe such rPV>
enue as may be necessary by levying a tax, by
valuation, so that every person and corpora
ton shall pay a tax in proportion to the value
OF the property belonging to them, respec-
lively such value to be ascertained as the
Legislature shall direct. ProUiae9. That the
Legislature shall have power to exempt from
taxation agricultural products grown directly
from the soil and in the hands of the pro,
Queer, and all other products of lathr and
capital. including 1--we stock, produced within
the limits Of the st te during the wear nre~
ceding and remaining in the hands of the nro.
dncer. But the Legislature shall have nowcr
t" tax, hv nnif"rm and equal laws, all rrivi-
lrges and franchises of persons and cornor,.
tons.
2 The prorertv of the State, counties
townships and other municiral CORPORATIONS
beth real and personal, and such other nron,
ertv "a may he used. or the proceeds of which
NAV b" used, exclusively for agricultural or
horticultural societies. for cdurational. literary
or scientific, religions nr charitable nurnoses
or f"r a public burial ground. shall he exennt
from t'xa'i"n bnt such property and use
shall he determined in such manner n q IN.
Legislature shall direct nv general law. uni.
form No to the class to which it applies.
3. The Legislature shall lew an animal
rapltnt'on tax of one dollar upon each male
1nhahitnnt of the State who has attained the
age OF fweniy>one years, which shall he an.
nua.'y appropriated to the snnrort of free cou-
mon schools. Persons afflicted with bodily
i"firmitv may he cxem,ted from this tax. az
the Legislature may direct by general law.
and not otherwise.
4. N" money shall he drawn from the tre,.
surv nut IN pursuance of nm approximation
mace nv law, and on n warrant issued thereon
.
nV'ne Annlt"r nor shall anv money or fund
he taken foT any other purpose than that for
"h'cl u has heen nr may he appropriated or
provided. A cnmnlrte and de.niipd state.
ment of the receipts and expenditures of tho
public moneys. shall he published annual,v
D. N" debt shall he contracted nv this State
excert tn meet casual deficits in tho roven,.
to redeem a previous liability Of the State n
suppress lnsurrection, repel invasion, or de-
tend the State in time of war hut. the nav.
ment OF any liability other than that for tho
ordinary expenses or the Ssate. shall he eoual
~ distributed over a period of at least twenty
years.
6 The power Of taxation of the Leo;s1,.
fnre shall extend to provision for the PAYMENT
OF the State debt and interest thereon. and
the payment OF the annual estimated expenses
OF the State. but whenever any deficiency
shall exist in any year it shall lew a tax FIR
the ensuing year sufficient, with the other res
sources of income, to pay such Deficiency 40
well as the stimated expenses of such year.
4. The credit of the State shall not be Grant
cd to or in aid of any county, CITY, township
corporation or person nor shall the State ever
assure or become responsible for the debts mr.
liabilities OF any county, city, town, township
or person; nor shall the State ever hereafter
hecome a Joint owner or stock holder in anv
company or association, in this Stl,e or else
where, formed for any purpose whatever.
8. County authorities shall never assess
taxes, the aggregate of which shall exceed
seventy, five cents per one hundred dollars
valuation, except for the payment of indebt.
edness existing at the time of the adoption of
this Constitution; unless such assessment.
with all questions involving the increase Of
such aggregate. shall have been submitted to
the people OF the county and have received
three-htths OF all the votes cast for and against
it. $50
3. No county, city, township. school dis
trict, or other municipal corporation, except
In cases where such corporations have already
authorized their bonds to be issued. shall
hereafter be allowed to become indebted. in
any manner or tor any purpose. to an. amount.
including existing Indebtedness, in the ag-
sresate, exceeding five per centum on the
value OF the taxable property therein. to be
ascerfa'ned by the last assessment for State
and county taxes previous to the mourning of
such indebtedness, nor without, a. the same
time, providing for the collection of n direct
annual tax. sufficient to pay annually, the in,
terest on such debt, and the principal thereof.
within twenty years.
III. But nothing herein contained shall
prohibit the Legislature from vesting the cor.
r"rate authorities of cities, towns and VILLAGES
with power to make local improvements by
special assessments, or by special taxation Of
contiguous property, or otherwise. For all
other corporate purposes such corporations
may be vested with authority to assess and
collect taxes hut such taxes shall be uniform
with respect to persons and property within
the Jurisdiction Of the body imposing the
same.