The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-20
State EEqualizers Increase
Salt Lake County yalu-
ati0ns S Per Cent.
CLAIM IT IS JUSTIFIED.
TO PUT THIS COUNTY ON A PAR
TTY WITH TIE OTHERS.
State Institutions Will Need the Ex-
ira Eevenue-The County Com
missioners Considering Ways and
Means TO Block the Action of the
State Board of Equalization.

were yesterday the recipients of a sur
prise, the effect of which are not likely
to pass away for considerable length
of time. The large number of repre-
sentative and heavy tax payers, who,
the past few days, contributed their
aid to the county equalizers' efforts 70
SHOW that an increase Of 5 per cent in
the assessed valuations of all taxable
property in the county as proposed by
the state board of equalization should
not he made, were also not only sur
priSed but rudeiy shocked. The jolt
was caused by the decision of the state
beard to make the per cent raise and
the surprising intelligence came In the
shape Of the following notice TO the
county officials:
THE STATE BOARD MAKES THE
RAISE
Whereas, This board having hereto
fore met, to-w6t: on Aug 49, 1897, and
served upon the county commissioners
and county auditor of Salt Lake county,
Utah, written notice to the effect
that it proposed to raise he valuation
of all property in said county to the ex-
tent of per cent thereof and fixing
Aug. Ii. 1881, at 2 p m. to appear and
show cause why such increase in valt-
Wfeareas, In pursuance of said notice
nearing has been had, and all parties
who so desired were given an oppor-
tunity to be heard and were heard, and
after hearing all arguments Of parties
VINO thus appeared, and being fully
advised in the premises and having
fully considered the matters in contro-
versy:
Resolved, That the total valuations
in Salt Lake county, as the same ap-
pears upon the assessment roll thereof
at this date, tO-Wit: Aug. 49, 1897, be
and the game are hereby increased
per cent thereof and the property in
Salt Lake county is hereby assessed in
value at the said valuation as it ap-
peared upon the assessment roll Aug.
Is. 1897. With an increase of 5 per cent
ON such valuation
THE JUSTIFICATION CLAIMED.
The members of the state board
claim Justification for the raise by
pointing to the fact that the various
state institutions depending ON the
general tax levy for revenues for main
tenance would suffer great incon-
venience, If not hardship, by reason of
the certain deficit in the revenue if the
increase had not been made. The state
board also maintain that the raise was
necessitated if yalues throughout the
state for taxing purposes are to be
equalized in fact. or if. so to speak. the
valuations of Salt Lake county are to
be put ON q parity With those of like
property under like conditions in the
other counties. 81.
By way of further Justification the
state equaliZers submit the following
figures:
In. considering the returns from the
different counties of the7state, the board
found that Salt Lake county had been
reduced in valuation from the year 1896,
So, 559, ass. Almost every other county in
the state showed an increase or about
held their own, with the exception of
Weber, and in that county, after care
full investigation, the board concluded
not to disturb the ass ssment. The
total valuation of the State in 1891
was 1924 ,047 ,000; the valuation Of Salt
Lake county in 1891, $59,727,472; Salt
Lake county being 4s per cent Of the
whole. In 1896 athe total valuation of
the state was isl07, 291 ,04S; Salt, Lake
county. s43,700,576. or 40 per cent of the
whole. In 1897 by the returns made,
the total valuation of the state is $102,-
$4,000; of Salt Lake county, $40, 092, 933
or SO per cent of the whole. showing a
decrease since 1891 in the valuation of
Salt Lake county from IS per cent to
SO per cent of the whole, and an in
Lake county from 80 per cent ito 81 per
cent. The total reduction in the yalua-
ton of the state since 1891 for this year
is $22, All 900. The total reduction in
Salt Lake county since 1891 is 49, 6S4,-
4S9. These figures are presented by the
board to SHOW that it has not endeavor-
ed to do Salt Lake county an injustice.
THE RAISE WILL BE FURTHER
RESISTED.
While the county commissioners have
not yet taken any formal action look
ing to the further resistance of the
raise, it is known that they are still in
clined to make good their threat to
carry the matter into court Commits
sioner Armstrong was in consultation
yesterday with prominent tax payers
and certain legal lights mapping out a
plan of procedure TO yitiate the state
boards increase. Just what form of
procedure will be taken in the courts,
whether by suing out a writ of proiaib BIZ