The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-08-25
CHANGE IN THE METHODS.
A Radical Change Was Made In Method d
and Basis in Figuring Assessment.

A Radical Change Was Made In Method
and Basis in Figuring Assessment.
The State Board OF Assessment and
Equalization has completed it's work for
another year, and in the work has rad
ically departed from methods followed
| by former boards, writes correspond
ent from Pierre. In the past the re-
turns from various county officials have
been used as basis, and all counties
brought to basis an average on the re-
turns 80 sent in. The most radical
change on that line WAS taken on the
advice of the attorney general, who
holds that it is within the power of the
State Board to increase any and all as
easements in the state up to actual val
ue, if the board so desires. That as an
assessment board OF corporate property
ii is the duty OF the board to assess
such property, and then to, as an equa-
lization and assessment board, equa-
lie all other property of the state at an
apportionate value.
In carrying out the equalization on
this basis, the board found q mass OF
conflicting ideas of county officials as to
what constituted real values. Cattle
were valued at from So to 1927 per head
in different counties, and real estate
had as great q range. Some OF the coun-
ties had listed realty at very low fig
ure, while in some of the more sparsely
settled counties, where personal prop
crty is not great, the realty was assess.
ed at greater figure than it would sell
for. All other property of the state
WAS handled in the same manner by the
county and township assessors and it
was with this macs of conflicting esti-
mates the board was compelled to deal
in fixing basis which would be- fair to
all. Another element was that some of
the counties desired high rate OF val
uation, that they might keep within
the Limitation of levy fixed by the last
legislature and still meet their obligat-
ions, while other counties, which were
in good shape financially, and could
easily get along within the limitations,
desired to be as low as possible. All
these matters had to be considered and
the board devoted most of the time of
the session in harmonizing these con-
hlctlng statements and desires to lust
and equitable basis to all.
After carefully going over the lists of
private property an increase of about
thirty per cent WAS decided upon and
approximately the same basis WAS used
in raising corporate property which
was assessed by the board AS there is
always conflicting evidence as to the
value OF such property, the officers of
the various corporations, as individuals
attempting to keep their assessments
as low as possible, and in the estimates,
earning value, as we'll as property val
ue had to be considered, it was imposs-
ible for the board, in the short time at
their command, to secure all the data
they desired in regard to this GLASS of
property, and the result of the work of
the board will no doubt show discrep-
ancies in valuations OF different COM
panies in the same line OF business. op.
Grating in the state. But whatever
discrepancies exist are not great and at
least not more 80 than those which vet
remain in regard to private property,
and substantially all are treated fairly,
with no discrimination attempted.