The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-17

were last year, Notwithstanding the fact
that values have materially deprecated;
and
Whereas, There are but few pieces of
real property that return or can be made to
return reasonable interest on their as
sessed valuation; and
Whereas, The figures at which property
is held should not control at this time,
when taxpayers, under the influence Of re
cent inflated prices and in expectation of an
approaching recurrence thereof, are hold
ing their property, without seeking to sell,
at prices at which there are no or few buy
ers; and
Whereas, It is reasonably certain that il
an ordinary percentage of property were
placed on tn e market to be sold for what
it would bring, there would be a consider
able and immediate depreciation in prices:
aud
Whereas, The total value of assessed
property lying within the city limits as as
sessed by the county assessor is approx
mately S4S, 000,000 and the city assessors
valuation is S57, 100000 although both as
sessments are made under the require
ments Of the same law; and
Whereas, More money will be eXaCted
from the people under the present assess
ment than will be required for municipal
purposes, as estimated by the mayor and
| finance committee of this council; and
Whereas, Taxpayers are already under
the heavy burden of special taxes for I'M
provements: and
Whereas The increase of taxes being
more than 3U0 per cent. in two years is IN
| Just ard burdensome to the taxpayer and
inimical 10 the best interests of the city
and
fWhereas, The fact that our taxes ex-
coed those Of all other western cities, with
but few exceptisns, will seriously retarC
our growth and prosperity by sitting the
influx and investment of capital; and
whereas, Under these conditions what
ever doubt may exist as to the correctness
of the assessors valuations should be re
solved in favor Of the taxpayers; there
fore, be it
Resolved, That the assessment roll b.
corrected and revised by reducing the val
uatiou of all real property and improve
ments to so per cent. of the valuation al
assessed, except on such real estate an
improvements as have already been or ma,
hereafter be reduced in value by this boar
for special reasons, the valuation of which
J to be reduced to so per cent. OF the cor
rected valuation thereof and that it be tn
sense Of this board that the city council in
, struct the. proper official to refund TO al
taxpayers who have heretofore paid tnei
taxes 20 per cent. of the taxes paid on rea
, property and improvements
J In speaking in favor of the measure, Nh
Young said that he had the opinion c
, Mayor Scott and of the leading attorney
= in the city that the council had the powe
! to reduce the assessment roll and Nj
D Young deemed it in the interest of the cit
0 to pass the resolution.
0 Mr.. Hardy said that he was heartily i
favor Of the measure. That if it We
0 passed. it would have tendency to er
c courage real estate buyers to come hithe
9 and invest, whereas the high taxes Wa
. now driving them away.
n Mr.. Lyon moved, as an amendment, tn;
o it be referred to the city attorney TT
O motion was lost.
0 The resolutions were adopted as read /
Q Mr.. Young. Messrs. Young, Freiddenhar
y Hardy, Hyde, Follsud, Heath, PendletC
q and Spafford voting in favor, and M
a Lyon against it.