Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-29

They do not think, however, that there
are any serious mistakes, and they are well /
assured that what there are can be readily
co1rec ed by this system
1t is for the committee to recommend |
what per cent of this market value shall |
be used in future. If on percentage of /
40 per cent, it will add 100000 to the |
grand list, reducing the tax rate from 80 |
to about 81 mill
In the beginning the systematizing of |
| the work was especially difficult, entirely |
new methods having to be devised, as |
there was no previous work of this kind |
from which experience could be gathered. |
In looking back, however, through it's
manytstages, and with all the information
acquired as it progressed, am thoroughly
satisfied that our general principle is
| correct, and if, with my present knowl-
edge of it, i were to undertake it again
should not change the methods in any i'm
portant particular. Three facts bear this
out
l. Our visible errors in doing the work
only amounted to 1-20 of per cent, and I
think all will agree that it would be diff
} cult to devise way by which any greater
accuracy could have been obtained.
2. The assessors by law are compelled
to stop receiving tax lists on October 81,
and in forty-eight hours we had located
5 and given them record of every piece of
-
This has ordinarily taken two or three
D weeks, and when the assessors have only
s about six weeks left in which to complete
= their work it is a great saving of valuable
: time.
s 8. In twenty-six working days every
! piece of real estate in the town was visited
It and revalued by the system.
In appendix will be found a list of
Y the men employed during the work and q
| 6ataIIaH of hn
Il 1 have only three recommendations to
~ make:
1. That corporations should be listed
1t for and pay an additional tax on all theil
d real estate which is not used in connection
1t with their business. In appendix E will
lel be found a list of this class of property.
s. 2 To ask the general assembly to &c
at amend section 1897 of the genera
pit statutes that land in any town, having {
lg city within it's borders, shall, when set il
If the list, specify the street or streets upo1
at which, or nearest to which, it is situated
er and also the number of front feet on sucl
~ streets. Such an amendment would suol
v more than anything else the undervalua
ton of property. The section as it stand
e. is feasible for the smaller towns wher
a only few lists have to be taken and tn
10 assessors know they can assess all propert.
from memory. But in cities where larg
It. amounts of real estate are changing hand
a every year, and where the values also ar
n constantly changing, the more specific in
IS formation you require, the more equitabl
q will be your taxes.
3. To as soon as possible secure tn
d. passage, by the general assembly, of
special act whereby our assessors shal
hold their Office from January to January
only part of the board to retire each year
and the compensation to be large eno1g
for them to afford to devote ample time t
S. thoroughly do the work.
1t is an old saying that nothing
IN sure but death and taxes" Death come
impartially to the rich and the poor, an
r. the nearer perfection is reached in tn
On adjustment of taxes, making each proI
D. erty owner contribute according to hi
he means, the more will harmony, good will
er- law and order be promoted between men
of Each and every one of us may feel thu
n, our taxes are too large, but if we also fe
en- that the man who has a million, pays {
ill much in proportion, as the man who he
* a thousand, the burden is not half
great.
or In closing this brief review of the worl
mt allow me to. thank the members of til
art committee for the cordial support and a
en- sistance they have given me. No time {
ng effort on my part has been spared to max
it a success, and if the committee are
ir- we'll pleased with the result attained as
am, l shall be more than satisfied.
er- F. j. Brown, Supervisor.
he Waterbury, Decembert26, 1891. .n.
St In connection with the report the lis
'as in detail of property owners and busine
DIT houses who have escaped taxatio
ID is given. The expense of conducting IL
an work by the revision committee WI