The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1893-07-06
A WRONG IDEA.

a WhUNt lDhh
There is one lesson which the peo-
pie Of this county will have TO learn
sooner or later, which is that high
rate of taxation and low valuation
is directly combative to the interests
Of every man in the county. This
year the rate is three cents but when
the state board raises the valuation
in this county, as it is certain to do,
we will pay more than three cents on
the present valuation-or at least
three cents on a higher valuation,
which amounts to the same thing
We cannot understand the principle
Of setting a high rate When it is
set high it is because it is necessary
to raise larger amount of funds,
but that result seldom occurs, as the
assessment is generally adjusted to
fit the rates, so that about the same
amount is collected. This year the
rate is higher than usual, and in
good part the assessment has been
raised over last year-as high as the
assessor could conscientiously place 1t
under three-cent rate, as most of
our people can only stand about SO
much--yet it is too low, SO low that
il will be raised by the state board.
The board, when it comes to compare
the valuations along the north line of
Canyon county and the south line Of
Washington county, and find the for
mer to be more than double the lat
ter, with nothing but county line to
create the difference, there is certain
to be Justification, which will cause
some one to pay more taxes than it
was intended they should pay. In
this matter Of valuation we might
consider Washington county as n
single person 1t is desired to raise
by taxation from this person the sum
of $50, 900. A levy of three cents
is made on the supposltion that his
property valued low will foot round
81, 900, 900. But the state board
says that Is too low and raises him
to 81, 100, 600, on which he will pay
1913, 900, or three and one third cents
on the amount it was intended he
should pay but three cents. on. If,
on the other hand, the rate was fixed
at two cents and the valuation at 81, :
500, 900, it would have given the
same amount = $50, 600 = and the
state board would say "that is high
enough" and leave it alone. The
result would be that the county
would collect the same amount of
money it intended to collect on a
three-cent levy, and the taxpayer
would not be squeezed out of the ex-
ira So, 000 Then again let us sup
pose two men have each piece of
property exactly of the same value
One lives in Washington county and
desires to SELL A purchaser comes
! along and asks "'What is your prop
erty assessed at?' 1910, 600. "
"What taxes do you pay?" "$3 on
the 800" al don't believe / will
buy; the property is not worth as
much as it ought to be, and $500 is
too much to pay on $40, 900 worth of
property. l don't consider it good
investment. He visits the next
man living in another county and asks
"What are You assessed at?" 1920,
600" "WhaJ are you taxed?"
81 so on the 800" "Well that's not
bad. Back here in Washington coun-
ty the taxes are just double what
they are here. I'll see you tomorrow
and we'll close the deal. Do you
see the difference? The two proper
ties were identical in worth and iden-
tically the same amount would be col
lected from each, but the buyer came
from place where they assessed at a
cash valuation, and in his eyes there
was no kind of comparison between
the two investments.