Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-01-16
Clair County. Mich FRIDAY. JAN. 16, 1891
A CROOKED BOARD,
FIGURES IN REGARD TO EQUALIZATION
WHICH BEAR HARD ON THE FARMER.

FIGURES IN REGARD TO ECU
WHICH BEAR HARD ON TIE FARMER.
TO watch the public interests and to
protect them against every assault is
the duty and privilege of newspaper.
1t is therefore necessary that a thor
ough exposition be made of the recent
action of the Board of Supervisors
On the face of it. there is a rank injus-
tice to the rural districts OF the cOun-
ty. There seems to be no excuse for
snch an unfair distribution of taxation
Should there be, it should be made
public at once. The universal preiu-
dice in the interest of the cities of the
counties has aroused an outcry which
can not be huShed save by complete
refutation of the statement of the case
as presented to the Press. 1t is simply
casting the burden of taxation of the
county and state upon the poorer dis
trictS. Look at the figures.
The assessed valuation of real estate
in the rural townships is S7,G93, 500
The equalized valuation was 50. 9.l9O,5l5.
1t is on this latter that we are paying
our taxes. This shows that the Com
mittee on Equalization raised the yalu-
alton of taxable real estate in the
country just, Sl.496.695. Or IN other
words we are compelled to pay taxes
on 81 ,496,69 more than we are assessed
for
But investigate further and see how
this equalization" is brought about
Port Huron was assessed at S3,699, 80.
1t was equaliZed at $3.3l0.S50; a mani
fest reduction in that city alone of
1885, ,45O below its assessed valuation.
st. Clair was assessed at $65S, ,545 and
equallZed at S632,3l2. Fort GratiOt
was assessed at S43l POS, and equalized
at S42S,0l5. Marine City alone was
even equaliZed at its assessed valuation
This reveals an aggregate decrease
throughout these three cities alone in
equalized valuation below the assessed
valuation of S4l7,873. That is, these
cities have been allowed by the Board
to escape just taxation of S4l7,SI3
less than what they themselves admit
they possess.
These figures are astonishing TO say
the least. The very fact that Il Board
of Supervisors with majority from the
rural districts. and Committee OH
Equalization composed entirely of men
from the afflicted sections, should allow
themselves TO be SO outrageouSly hood
winked, is Slander on human nature.
They have allowed the heaviest burden
of taxation to be pushed upon the
poorest parts of the county, and for
no other reason than that "the tax
could not have been collected in the
cities, and it could be got out of the
farmers" This is the only excuse
which has been ventured. And thus
we are compelled to pay taxes OF
81 ,496,690 more than we are assessed at
just because we as country people are
willing TO pay, or at least the means of
squirming out of it are not so cOnven-
lent of access: while these cities, which
have increased almost One-half in val
uation within the past few years, are
quietly permitted 70 escape their just
burdens. because they give out that
they will not pay them
The outrage is even more plainly
shown when individual cases are con
sidered. Brockway township is assess
ed at S477,l40 and will pay taxes on
S60l 800. Clyde pays taxes on $l67, 800
more than ii has IN property valuation.
KenOckee pays on Sl40.552, Greenwood
on SS3,2l5. Clyde on S99, $50. Emmett on
Sl22, 100, more than the assessment rolls
show them to possess. The Discrepancy
is frightful We're the necessary in
creaSes fairly distributed in equaliZa.
ton 1t might be excusable. But where
the line Of favoritism is so plainly
drawn between city and country, and
the whole load of increase. together
with part of the just burden of the
city, cast uncerimoniously upon the
country, it is matter which must find
either most potent excuse or most
cff inn f1.nt &c
ed against it is universal throughout
the poorer parts of the county. There
the added weight is felt in all its obi
BUSINESS. These people demand redress;
and it is but the part of fairness that
they should have it.
With it all our condition is most pecu-
liar. The very representatives from
the country haye brought. or allowed to
be brought, this additional load of tax
alton upon us. They constituted the
committee on equalization, still they
allowed themselves to be bullied, as
seems evident, by representatives from
the cities If this is not the case, they
are equally guilty of culpable negli.
gence OF the best interest of their con-
stituencies. In either case their posi-
ton is equally blamable. If they are
able TO clear themselves they have
abundant opportunity. The people of
the county now are anxious to know
the reason, if there be any, why every
city has been lowered in valuation aud
all rural districts raised. Some answer
must be given. Silence can not as
suage the peoples anger. They are
sorely aggrieved and have just reason
to demand redress.
--Rs~s%
| will buy potatoes next week. and