The Placer herald., 1874-08-08
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LOW TAXES.

The people of the county seem, as a gen.
ton for the coming year. Last year. taxes
were low-lower than in any other county ii
the State, except one, and that was the
81 me. The query seems to be, will the rate
be higher this year than it was last? We
can say now, without fear of being wrong
that it will. There were severn! cause.
which tended to make the rate low last year,
that do not now exist; and then there are
circumstances which exist now, that tend
to require an increased amount of revenue,
that did not exist last year. In the first
place, the rate of State tax last year was
only fifty cents on the one hundred dollars
this year, owing to DEFICIENCIES that have ex-
isted in certain State Funds, and the in
creased amount of revenue required under the
amended law for school purposes, the rate
will probably not be less than sixty-two
cents on the one hundred dollars Our
county tax last year was ffty-fve cents on
the one hundred dollars. One, and the
main reason why it was so, is this just
ceived about $50 900 from the railroad COM
pany, for back taxes. This was in the
treasury at the time the rate was levied
and it was thought by the Supervisors that
6fty-fve cents on the one hundred dollars of
taxable property ia the county, in addition
to this $50 900, would be sufficient to rur,
the county for the ensuing year On this
they reckoned wrong, for, notwithstanding
the county government was never adm mis-
tered more economically, considering the
amount Of expenditures for permanent pub
lie improvements, there is not money enough
left to pay the bills allowed by the Board OF
Supervisors at its present sitting Hence
taxes were lower last year than they ought
TO have heen, in as much as the end of the
year will find a very considerable deficiency
existing. Under these circumstances, we
base our assertion that the rate will be higher
this year. In the first place, we have
no $50, 900 coming from the railroad com
pany that can be relied on 1t is coming, tc
be sure, but we fear too far off to do us anv
good at present. In the second place, ther,
VIII ne uenclency OF several thonsand do
lars to make good. We may then, put i
down as a fact that the rate will be highel
this year than last. This, we exceedingly
regret, because, though the upper portion o
the county may be as well able to bear the
increase as ever it was, we know the farmers
in the lower portion of the county, on account
Of almost complete failures in their crops
will be hard run this fall for money, ant
iilly able to pay their taxes at any rate, anc
an increase, especially, will grind upon them
1t is but right, though, that they should
have a fair understanding of the cause whicl
they will please notice, is not an increase Of
expenditures, but the different condition o.
the treasure last year and now, caused
manly, aa all will re dy see, by the rat'
being too low last year to meet the demand
an consider tion Of the existing hard tme
among the farmers, we hope Supervisor
will figure the rate for the present yea
as low as possible, in accordance wit
consistency