The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-07-11
County Equalization Board
Had Little to Do Be-
cause None Were
Made.
THE GUTENBERG ASSESSOR
His Remaining Away From
the Meeting Miffs the
Commissioners.

The County Board for the Equalization
of Taxes met yesterday afternoon to hear
appeals, but as no appellant material
ized did not have much to do. John Ken
nell the assessor of North Bergen Town
ship, who did not appear on Monday with
sthe other assessors was on hand early
with a big book and big excuse for his
absence of the day before. He said that
in addition to being assessor he is clerk
of the Town Board of Health and was
busy all day with the august body in
vestigating the complaints that the bodies
from the big Hoboken steamship fire had
been buried Illegally and give menace
to the health of the community. The ex-
cuse was accepted he was sworn. He
said that the value of the real estate in
his district was So, Cos 290, and of personal
$110,950 making total of 50, ,179, ,240
MIR. Kennel figured out a total increase
OF $1l2,2l $685. ,665 on real estate and
$500 personal This was not exactly clear
to the commissioners. During the past
year the Borough of Secaucus has been
set off from North Bergen and the
assessor thereof has filed his return and
1t is difficult to determine just what the
actual income in North Bergen is. The
Commissioners and Mr.. Kennel did con-
siderable figuring and the more they
figured and the more Mr.. Kennel ex-
planned the denser the matters became
Finally the Commissioners directed Mr..
Kennel to appear before the Board this
afternoon and bring the Assessor of Sc
caucus with him, and an effort will be
made to get the tangle Strengthened out.
Dominick j. Lahess, the assessor of
Gutenberg, has not as yet deigned to
appear before the Board, and the dignity
of the Commissioners is somewhat miffed
thereby. The Board is part of the Court
and, it is claimed, has the power to pun
ish for contempt any assessor who ignores
its summons. At any rate the Board can
refuse to approve the Assessors bill for
serving notices on taxpayers, which
amounts to considerable sum, and be
severe penalty for the Assessor. The
figures for Kearny, which We're not ex-
actly correct when handed in on Mon
day, were revised. The new figures show
that the value of the real estate is
S040,9S5 and the personal 1886, $50, making
a total of $4,426, 1885, This is a total in
crease of $226, ,910
The total realty values from the eleven
municipalities that have made returns
thus far are $124, $50 and the personal
property in the same districts is valued
at s12, 300, $50
Hoboken last year returned SIG, ,063 200 in
real estate and $1,s90,S00 personal prop
erty. To this the County Tax Board
added the Veterans exemptions previous
ly allowed, amounting to. $685. 500, and
making a total valuation of SIS, ,039, 800. The
immense losses sustained through recent
fires and the decrease made by the State
Tax Board in last years valuation of the
Stevens property it is believed will come
very near offsetting the natural increase
in valuations. So Hoboken cannot be de-
pended upon this year to show material
increase in the value of her ratables.
Guttenberg's figures last year were
s7ss,O0o realty and s47240 personal To
these were added veteran exemptions
amounting to $9o,70O, making total of
$40. There has been very little build
ing in the town during the year and prop
erty there has not increased in value so
there is no likelihood of any material in
crease in the total of ratables from this
source. If Hoboken and Gutenberg be
tween them can show an increase Of
$9f8, $50 the $4,000 900 total will be reached
The county's total valuation last year
was s161, ,9s4, ,S0a