Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-08
TAXES TO Be LESS.
Our County Commissioners Have
Discovered the Necessity of
Reducing Taxation.
ITMAY BE CUT DOWN TO ONE MILL
The Wealth of the State of Allegheny In
creasing at an Unprece-
dented Rate.
HALF A BILLION WOULD NOT COVER 1T.
ITMAY BE CUT DOWN TO ONE MILL
HALF A BILLION WOULD NOT COVER 1T.
AItef Assessors Who Fail to Make Fair Valuation Of
Property.

The wealth of Allegheny county is in
creasing at speed that would make For
tunatus turn green with envy, and would
cause him to work nights emptylng his
magic purse il he wanted to catch up. The
County Commissioners are suffering from
an embarrassment of riches, and are think
ing seriously of reducing the millage. At
present Allegheny county, despite the fact
that it was caught on railroad bonds, was
assessed an enormous amount for the rail-
road riots OF 1877, and has recently built
what is admitted to be among the finest,
and without doubt the most complete
county buildings in the world, is taxed at a
lower rate than any other county in the
State.
To-day the county debt is but So, 4SO.-
007 65, and none of it natures until 1900,
when $105,0 900 of the 4-per-cent riot bonds
fall due. In 1905 81, ,125, 500 of the 4per-
cent riot bonds and $500, 900 of the 81 per
cent new Court House bonds may be called
in. In 1908 the balance of the Court House
bonds, $500, 900 of the 4-per-cents, and ST.
449, ,5O7 65 of the 5-per-cent compromise
bonds become due. Then the county debt
will be wiped out.
REDUCING TAXATION.
1--WE are seriously considering the reduc-
ton of county millage," said County Com
missioner Mercer yesterday. "Before we
asked the Legislature for authority to issue
bonds to pay for the building of the new
Court House, we adopted resolution pro-
viding for a levy of mill on the dollar to
liquidate the cost When we issued the riot
bonds we did the same thing, but when we
found that we were getting more money
than we had use ;or, we reduced the millage
and no one objected. We cannot, force
people vino hold county bonds to accept
cash ior them until they mature. People
who have an investment which paws them
and which is as absolutely safe as finaL-
cial transaction can be, are in no hurry for
their money. Thus we are accnmmulating
8 large sinking fund, without a chance OF
putting the money in good use.
"We are now in the same position in re-
gard to the Court House bonds. A tax of
mill on the present valuation OF the county
brings In a return of over S26S, 900. Now,
at that rate, we could pay off the Court
House bonds, which only amount to $780,
900, in three years il the holders OF the
bonds were willing. As it is the first of
these securities are not due for 16 years, and
the balance two years later.
DOWN TO MILL.
"At the county's present valuation of
S26s, ,227. .S2S we should collect on q 3-mill
basis SS04. .6S1. o. This amount two-thirds,
or 1854, 454, is devoted to meeting the run
ming exrenses OF the county, while the bal
ance, S26S. .227, is to be turned into the sink
ing fund to meet the Court House bonds.
We find, however, that 2-mill assessment
will cover all our expenses aud leave bal
ance OF $50, 900 or $50, 600 which could be
placed in the sinking fund, and would
amount in ample time to sufficient TO meet
the bonds. While no formal action has yet
been taken, it is very probable that next
year the assessment for county taxes will be
mills on the dollar.
'There is another feature which will very
likely within few years reduce the mill
age, while it may not decrease the amount
of taxes paid by each individual. The valu-
ations made by the county assessors are en-
tirely too low. There is no doubt whatever
that If all the property in the county was
assessed at as near Its real value as the prop
erty in the Third ward, Pittsburg. is by the
city assessors, the taxable value of the
county would be between $780, 600, 900 or
$500, 0Oo, 900. In that event we could run !
the county and pay off its debt on 1-mill |
tax.
NO TIME FOR REVISION.
'This is a matter in which we are badly |
handicapped. We are allowed but six |
weeks to revise the assessments. At the
end of that time the books must be in the |
County Treasurer's hands. The assessors |
turn in their books and we liston to appeals
from their valuations. As fast as we 60
through a district we have to turn over the |
books to copyers to have them prepared for
the Treasurer. We have no time to make
and so determine where glar-
ing undervaluations have been made. This !
city has a Board OF Assessors whose sole /
duty il is to look after the assessments |
1n property. In this way they are aided by |
good maps and by the Building Inspectors
records. We have nothing Of the kind to
help us, and we have no time to make per-
;onal investigation. The revision of the |
assessors books is only one OF the number
less duties we have to perform. We are |
now trying to devise some means whereby |
we can force the assessors to do their work |
properly. 1t is a shame that Allegheny |
,ounty's valuation should 60 forth to the |
world at $26S, 900, when it is considerably |
,ver half a billion. We would have better |
standing in the country If the actual wealth |
Of the county was known.
AN INSTANCE OF UNDERvALUATIoN.
An instance of the peculiar valuation Of |
county property came to light in |
The County Treasurer's Office yesterday. A |
gentleman called on behalf Of a neighbor to
pay the taxes on lot at Moss Side, North |
Versailles township. He was surprised to
learn that it was valued at but S55.
"Why," he said, "I wanted to buy the |
lot from my friend, but he wanted $500 for
It. He said the adjoining lot, which was
no better, ii as good, had brought that |
amount few months ago."