The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-30
TO PUT UP VALUATIONS.
ANEW CITY ASSESSMENT OF REAL
ESTATE TO BE MADE.


Realty to be Assessed at Its Market
Value, and on g Par With Personal
Property-The New Assessment to
be Made in Conformity to the Su-
preme Courts Recent Decision-A
Large Increase in Valuation Proba-
BILE, but the New Rate Not to Ex-
coed l 1-2 Per Cent.
The city council at its meeting yesterday
decided to tax all property, real and per-
sonal, at the same rate. After two hours
in caucus, the council passed an ordinance
to reassess all real property, including inn
provements.
The ordinance provides that the mayor
and finance committee shall at once APP
point eight freeholders, owners of real
estate, and residents, to assess and value all
real property and improvements within the
corporate limits. except such as may be
exempt from taxation under the constitu-
tion and state laws.
The ordinance provides that assessment
of lands and improvements shall be made
separately and at their market value. that
is TO say, for such sum as the assessors really
believe the property would bring at private
sale.
TO EQUALIzE TAXATION.
The new assessment is for the purpose of
bringing the valuations of real estate on a
par with personal property, in conformity
TO a recent decision of the supreme court
When the decision of the court was rem
dered the city was, to certain extent, put
on notice that if the tax was not so levied
the legality Of the tax ordinance would be
contested by real estate owners, and the
rQsTIit Vrnuld ha that fharo would ho No
means of raising money next year for the
city government.
An effort was made TO pledge the lawyers
OF the city to agree not to undertake any
suit looking to invalidating the tax ordi-
nance in the event of the city pursuing the
came method of raising taxes as heretofore
Nearly all of the lawyers agreed to refuse
such cases; but two or three prominent
members of the bar declined to bind them
selves to such an agreement, on the ground
that it was their duty to accept such cases
from their clients If any Of them desired to
test the law.
THE NEW ORDINANCE.
The ordinance which was passed yester-
day by unanimous vote, after providing
for an ad valorem assessment, provides for
revision of the return by the assessment
committee in order that a fair valuation
may be had. If the committee finds any
property which in its opinion has not been
fairly and correctly valued under the ord-
nance it will correct the valuation and
notify the owner of the property of the
correction, and he has the right of appeal
1t is understood that there will be a close
scrutiny of the assessment, and property
that is now returned at $4,000 to S15 5000,
but which cannot be bought for twice or
three times that amount will be made to
bear its burden of taxation according to its
market value. The provisions for the ap-
pealing of unsatisfactory assessments under
the new ordinance are the same as those in
operation heretofore
WILL NOT INCREASE TAXATION.
The new assessment will be made at once.
Corporation Attorney Adams said last
night that while there will be an apparent
increase in the valuation under the new
ordinance, there will be no material increase
In the amount of taxes to be paid. In other
words, while the tax levy under the old sys.
tenn of assessment was 216 per cent, under
the new system it would not exceed IL per
cent, SO that the new ordinance will work
no injustice or lay burdens upon the
owners of ground rent or other lots.
There is some talk about levying a street
or road tax. Such tax is levied in almost
every city like Savannah, and brings in a
large revenue. An alderman said yester- |
day that there are between 5000 and 5000 |
male adults between 81 and 60 years of age |
in this city, and it is pretty safe estimate |
that not over 1900 pay taxes. A street or |
road tax of So per capita would bring in a |
revenue of from $751; 900 to S2l, 600. Many |
of those who pay no tax whatever have |
children at the public schools and enjoy all |
of the privileges of the citizen and bear
none of the burdens of the government
Some or these exempts, while they are not
real estate owners are quite well off, having
money invested In stocks and bonds and are
uepositors in the banks.