Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-09
TAXES TOC0ME DOWN.
Allegheny County's Valuation Will
Reach Over $35O,0OO,00O.
A NEW CLASSIFICATION ADOPTED.
Occupation Assessments Are Increased Over
$2O00O,OOO
THE MILLAGE WILL TAKE A TUMBLE

County Commissioners Mercer, Weir and
Boyle met yesterday afternoon as the Board
of Revision and took action, the result of
which will be an increase in the county's
valuation, in the one matter alone, of over
10000. 900. The classification of occupa-
tions for taxation was entirely altered and
the number of classes increased and the val
uation placed on occupations raised Here
tofore there has been but three classes, rated
respectively at 500, $500 and $500. In the
first, or 800 class, were placed all
laborers, persons engaged at man.
ual labor, mechanics, etc., and all
clerks earning 81 900 year or less. In the
second, or 5000 class, we're included clerks,
small retail dealers and others with an in
come OF over $1,000 and less than g, 900
year. The third, or $500 class, included mer-
chants, manufacturers, bankers and profess
sional men and those with an income of
over s., 1000 per year.
At the meeting yesterday it was decided
to increase the number of classes to five.
In the first class will be placed farmers,
coal miners, laborers, ETC., including the
poorer paid class of workingmen. They
will be rated at $50.
How the OCCUPATIONS Are Classified.
In the second class will be machinists,
carpenters, blacksmiths, puddlers, boilers,
chimney blowers, ETC., including the grade
of mechanics of that nature They will be
rated at $500. The third class will include
heaters, window glass and bottle blowers
and workmen receiving higher rates of
wages than those in the first two classes,
clergvmen and all persons on salary of less
than 81 900 per year. They will be rated at
$500 per year. The fourth class will include
contractors, employees of labor, rollers and
persons receiving over $1,000 per year
salary and less than $4,000 They will
be rated at $500. The fifth class will take
in all bankers, manufacturers, large mer-
chants managers, physicians, lawyers,
public officers, ETC., and persons receiving
over s., 900 per year salary. They will be
rated at $1,000
The board, in making the classification,
have endeavored to follow the directions
indicated in an opinion on the subject
handed down by Chief Justice Paxson in
1885. They have taken as guide, not the
actual income of a person, but the income
of the majority of the persons of one occu-
patton, and placed all of that occupation in
one class.
Great Booms in Valuation.
In the case of lawyer for example, even
if his actual earnings were less than 81, 900
per year, he would have to go into the fifth
class with his brother lawyers and be rated
at 81 900, according to the Supreme Court
decision. The former classification, which
was first adopted at the time of the last tri-
ennial assessment, was great improvement
over the former method, and the present
plan is considered still greater improve
ment. Commissioner Mercer said the alter
alton would make an increase in the
county's valuation of over $40, 900, 900.
The figures are not in yet, but it has been
estimated that there will be considerable
increase in the county's valuation in other
directions, and the total valuation NAV go
over $3.50, 100000. At the last assessment
it was about 1886, 100000 Nothing has yet
been determined upon, but it is likely that
when the Commissioners meet next month
to levy the millage there will be decrease
in the millage end that the increased reduc-
tion will still make the revenue large
enough to leave surplus to wipe out some
of the county's Indebtedness.