Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-11-29
The Re-assessmenf in the County
of Augusta--The Present Taxa
ton.
FHLLow-CIrIzHxs:

FELLOW CIrIzsxs:
By An act of January 24th, 1917, any person
feeling himself aggrisved by the assessment Of
1870 had the right to apply to the County OF
Corporation Court for reduction Of any Assess
ment, made in pursuance Of act of 1870, provided
the application was made within six terms Of
said Court, next ensuing, after the passage Of
said act.
By subsequent act, taking effect February lst
1872, it was provided that upon petition Of
majority of land holdsrsin any county OF corps-
ration, or upon the petition Of the Board of Su-
psrvisors of any county, or upon the petition Of
= majority Of land holders in any township of
any county, it should be the duty Of the Court
of such county or corporation, at the March term
of said Court, in the year 1872, to appoint and
associate two free holders of said county or cor
poration, Of experience and judgment, with the
assessor for said county or corporation, who
should constitute Board of re assessment, and
who should proceed to assess the value of lands
and lots with Improvements thereon, in there re-
speetivs counties corporations and townships,
as the same were arranged and established by
law.
But the people Of Augusta by failure to COM
ply with tho provisions of tho acts referred TO
above, before their expiration, have derived lit
tie or no relief from an onsrous and unconstitu.
tional assessment.
The assessment of 1870 was unjust to many
counties in the Stale, but particularly 50 to Au-
gusta: For proof illustrative Of the enormous
and disproportionate revenue which Augusta
county under the present uncorrected assessment,
is compelled to pay, you will not have to travel
further than the adjoining county Of Buckingham
In that county the assessment Of 1870 was .
decrease of $685. 90 on tho assessment of
1856, and subsequently by ava1ling herself of the
act of February LIST, 1872, she made still fur
ther reduction of$s9o, I'll .c0-so that her reduc-
ton upon the two assessments amounts OF
81, SOB, $50 .OO-which IL equivalent to a reduce
ton Of nearly oneffth or 20 per cent. of the as
sessment Of 1856.
Now, by applying this per centage of reduc-
sion to Augusta county, assessed in 1856, At
$40, 2ll ola 90, you have a reduction of $2,-
o42, 1872 90, and if to this the increase over the
assessment of 1870, amounting to ST ,437 906 90,
be added, it shows that Augusta county is inn
properly assessed with three and q half millions
of dollars Of realty, and consequently is paying
thereon, at the present rate of taxation, annual-
", SIT 800 every dollar Of which is in excess of
a fair assessment, as is shown by the comparison
with Rockingham county.
Other counties could b cited, which would
show in still more aggravated form, the enor-
nous excess Of taxes paid by the psople Of Au-
eusta county and therefore the comparison mads
fair, but is below an average of the counties OF
the State, rather than above it.
Ihavs never heard that there is any special
local enhancement in tho values OF Augusta
lands, ~ compared With Rockingham or other
portions Of the State, that will account for the
disproportionately enlarged revenue, drawn
from her people.
1t has been suggested, however, that tho mar
ket price of property in Stanton has contribu-
Aed greatly to the enhanced assessment but the
records show low assessment Of real estate in
Stanton, and hence the disproportion paid ~
the entire county falls upon the people OF the
county and not upon those Of the city.
do not presume that our people desire to pay
this unjust and uncon stitutional excess, and
therefore suggest and advise that they forward
petitions from evsry portion Of the county 70
ths Legislature, setting forth their grievances in
this regard, and asking relief from the same.
1t is by no means certain, in fact, Doubtful,
whether the Legislature having provided mode
for your relief unayailsd of By your local au-
thoritiss, will take action again in your special
behalf, particularly the Augusta delegation il
divided upon the propriety Of the measure, IN
less they are beset by long and clamorous psti-
lions from the people theselyes.
This il a matter of such serious concern to the
people Of this community, that have felt it 70
be my representative duty to bring it to their at
tention, and to urge upon thea tho importance Of
moving in the matter At once.
II the people uphold tie hands Of their repre-
sentatives, relief may yet DO obtained. Withopi
their active cooperation, their representation
are powerlsss, and their cause hopeless.
ALEXANDER B. COCHRAN.