The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-02-28
OF VITAL INTEREST TO TAX PAYERS


Some Suggestions, from n Gentleman
who hnS GIYes the subject special
study, Concerning the Re-VRluRIiOn oil
CITY Realty fur Taxable Purposes.
Editors IntegencOr
Under the new ordinance the three city
Assessors have a very important duty to
perform. So important ia 1t, we can con-
Ceive OF no public business that more di'
reCtly affects the tax payers of the city,
This duty is no less than the revaluation
OF all the real estate in the city for taxable
purposes. The Assessors will begin their
work probably this week, COM
menCing with the First ward and
continuing through the several wards az
numbered to the end. Under the old syB'
tenn the city was divided into two districts
each Of the two assessors beginning stimuli
taneously in bis respective district. Hence
the new system will require double the
time to do the work. Besides, 1t now re-
quires three men to do what one did be.
fore. Our object in referring thus early to
the work In hand Is to call the gentlemen's
attention to the necessity Of using the ex.
tremest caution and the CleRreBt
judgment at their command 10
changing the valuation OF property
for, no doubt, they will have much Of II
to do. This Is so Of necessity, as it has
been about nine years since the last re.val.
uation; and In that time much improved
realty has both increased and diminished
in value. Tho inequalities in valuation
on the assessment books are rs numerous
as It's pageO; while the differences OF lik @
and contiguous property are exceedingly
glazing. Hence the necessity OF unusual
care in making either elevations or dOpres-
Bions In values. In every case that 1t is
possible, where change Is contemplated,
the assessors ought to get the views Of
not only the owners but also oil
one or more persons In the locality who
are veTsed In real estate values In said
localities. In most cases whore property
is increased there will naturally DO an
objection by the freebooter, therefore Il
should be seen TO, his protest Is not well
his legal privilege and appeal to the
Courts for redress; which would not only
entail an expensive law suit on the
city, but cause other endless disputes
and grievances, which are to DO always
DEPRECATED. On the other hand, when
lowering the value Of property, great care
Is needed, for while no risk Is run in Of.
Tending the owner, there Is great risk Of do
ing injustice to the city. It's possible by
indisCriminnte reductions based on err0.
neous conclusions, to seriously cripple
the City's revenue. Another point to con.
slider is whether or no some basis OF Yalua.
ton should not form o grand work upon
which all values OF realty should
rest. What is meant by "basis" in this
connection Is simply whether II DO not
better for both the city and citizens 10 Get.
tie on bRsis considerable less than the
actual cost oil the property, where 1t iB i'm.
provedp The palpable reason for II being
30 fixed Ia that improved property rapidly
deteriorates from the day the building Is
completed 80 that 10 several years Il Ia
worth considerably less than It cost.
Again: II Is often the case property is
standing idle, or poorly rented, or from
other causes productive, In such
cases the hardship Ia unusually severe on
the owner and frequently financially over.
whelms him. II low basis prevails
the owner takes the hard lot with better
grace Is disposed not 10 complain and
pays Ills taxes Cheerlnlly with the hope oil
better returns from his property the com.
Ing year. The matter oil "basis" OF valua.
ton Is an important factor In taxation.
In some sections 1t Ia claimed the "baBis''
is but one.halt the value, In others one.
third, and in others again three.fourths;
but 1t does not come under our
notice OF the basis OF real estate,
anywhere, being placed at lie
full value for taxable purposes. Again,
who Is to determine absolutely what The
full value Of piece OF property may DO :
There, Is one good rule, however, which
should be observed, viz Be always on the
safe side, |. Q. in favor Of the tax payer,
Taxes should never be onerous II we want
happy and prosperous community. The
nearer Council and the assepsors can gel
the basis Of valuation on real estate to a
minimum, the closer will we be to that
ecstatiC goal. TAX PAYER.