Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-29
IT WILL BE z MILLS.
The Rate You Pay in Taxes This Year,
on Pittsburg Property.
AN ITEM OF VITAL MOMENT TO ALL.
Gratifying Result of the Assessors Ardaous
Tax Canvass. . .--
THE RATE is REDUCED BY 0NE-THIRD

The one vital result of the city assessors
recent arduous labors comes to the front now
for the first time. "what will the harvest
be?" has been the question with them in
their diligent effort to reap according to the
spirit and letter of the law. "What will the
millage be-" has been the question with the
thousands of taxpayers who contribute to
Pittsburg's municipal granary.
Well, as near as it is possible now to state
it. on the basis of the assessors estimated
total, yesterday submitted to Councils, it
will be u mills.
The prompt preliminary report Of the
Board of Assessors of this valuation of the
taxable property of the city, to hold for
three years, but not yet reduced by them Of
fcially to millage, was presented to Coun-
ellis yesterday. Heretofore this information
has not come forward except through the
Finance Committee and upon the latest day
possible-January 81.
This triennial assessment is new de-
parture, in that it requires cash valuation
and includes, in the new city charter, the
proviso (about which there is question:
that no property shall be assessed at less
than the last recorded sale. 1t is to
THE CREDIT OF THE BOARD
that, as stated in their communication to
Councils, they have evinced and clearly
shown a desire to have ample publicity
given the work they have had in hand, and
this has resulted in widespread information
and in anxiety on the part of taxpayers
generally to ascertain their worth" as dis
covered by the inquiry made under the new
law. This has resulted in the visit of
thousands of citizens to the Office, and OF
thousands of applications by mail to the
Office for transcript, yet, Notwithstanding
the throng found there daily, our reporters
have failed to see or hear of
any bad feeling, while their inquiries
suggest the fact, that there is a general con-
fidence in the efforts of the men in charge
to give satisfaction. The apparent salts
faction in the announcement of the result of
appeals is indicative of this and there is no
hesitancy on the part of the board to give
further examination where errors of judg-
ment or in calculation are suggested.
The number of appeals being SO great has
prevented an examination of all, and hence
the delay in getting at the actual amount of
the total valuation. The amount reported
to Councils is, however, very near the
actual
RESULT OF THE CANVASS
now drawing to a close. The question of
millage is uppermost, and worthy of. con-
sideration by all. .. ....
The total of the last triennial valuation
after deducting the percentage for lost and
exonerated taxes and the change required
bv classification from city (whole), to rural
or suburban (two-thirds), and agricultural
(one-half), was S119, ola, 900. the reduction
on account of classification, etc, as stated,
was ST., ,000,OO but the growth of the city
will almost surely reduce this so far as the
classification is concerned to, say, $14, ,o0O,-
oOO
The Boards estimate, S191, ,Go. 900, less
this reduction, will give for taxable pur-
poses, in round numbers, SIT, ,OO0, 900; so
that, to realize the amount estimated for the
past year, there is likely to oe a levy of less
than II mills, being a reduction of about
33 = per cent.
1t is an undoubted fact that the small
property holders have, heretofore, been as
sessed very closely to their actual valuation;
but, under the new order of things, they
will not, generally, be much increased, their
more fortunate neighbors and fellow citi-
zens having large holdings will be so
brought up and to such a proper standard
as must inure to the benefit of the small
holder.