The record-union., 1899-08-22
SOME COUNTIES VERY SLOW.
STATE EQUALIZERS DELAYED
BY AUDITORS.
A General Opinion That San Diego
County Has Been Assessed
Too High.


nored the law that compels them to
have their equalized reports Of taxes
before the State Board of Equalization
not later than the second Monday IN
August. These counties are Alameda,
Calaveras, Marin and Modoc.
Until their figures are here we can
not systematize our work" said a mem
Der of the board yesterday.
AS soon as the equalized reports are
all in and duly filed by County Auditors
the data will be tabulated so as to show
at a glance what counties are high,
| what ones are low.
! 1t is already known, as was demon
strated by a comparison of partial lists
| yesterday, that several counties will be
given the statutory five days notice
to show cause why changes should not
be made.
1t is already known that San Diego
| CountyS assessed valuation shows a
decline of 81, 100000 from last years
valuation, but it is probably the opin-
ion of a majority of the board that San
Diego County has been over assessed.
The following figures show the status
in that county:
! The value of real estate in the coun-
ty other than city lots has been fixed
| at 81, III, ,25S, and the value of city and
town lots at 81, ,126, ,S29, making the to-
tai value of all real estate in the coun-
| ty, S11 ,904, ,0S7. The value of improve
ments on real estate other than city
and town lots is placed at 81, ,032, ,964,
and the improvements on city and town
lots at $3,067 1873, making the total
value of all improvements 81, 100, ,291.
| This makes the total value of real es-
| tate, lots and improvements, $16004,-
3S4
The value of personal property other
than money and solvent credits is ST.,
fl12,753, and the money and solvent
credits, S53,62 The total value
therefore, of all the property in the
county, with the exception of rail-
roads, has been placed at ST., ITO, ,159.
| The value of the railroads will be fixed
by the State Board of Equalization, and
for this county the figures will prob
ably be 81, 100000. Last year they were
approximately 81 100000, but for some
reason or other the Fallbrook branch
| Of the Southern California road was
not assessed. Including railroads the
| total valuation will therefore be about
| S1S,670,000. Last year the valuation
was $50, ,215, 1S3 or about 100000
more than this year. This years val
ues, however, are only about 100000
! below those of 1897.
The greatest decline in values this
year is in city and town lots, which are
assessed at 81, 100000 below last years
| figures. The country real estate shows
a decline in value of $150,000. There
: is a gain of $256 in the value Of i'm
pTovements in the country, and a fall
ing off of about 100000 in the city
! from that of last year. The value Of
the personal property shows an in
crease of $4,000 this year, and that
Of money, S1,400.
! The number Of acres of land assessed
in the county is 1,201, 506.39. The as
sessed value of mortgages is 50, 165, Ill,
and of personal property collected on
by the Assessor in the city, 1854, ,522,
and out of the city, $319,629.
1t is the opinion of State Equalizer
| Alex. Brown that there are classes of
property, such as orange groves and
city realty, that are assessed too low.
He thinks farming and grazing lands
are assessed about right
Some interesting questions will arise
in the assessment of San Diego County
owing to the action of the local Board
| of Equalization, which cut the rate
much lower than it was made by the
local Assessor. 1t is probable that the
figures of the Assessor will be upheld
as against those of the local board
One of the delinquent counties
| (Calayeras) is the home of Alex. Brown
of the board. It is probable that there
will be a lively conversation between
Brown and the Calaveras Auditor to-
day. In fact, Mr.. Brown may insist on
enforcing the $1,000 fine provided by
law for delinquency.