Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-12-06

1899. 1900.
Total county, 81, 945, 900. SO, PA 900
Marshteld City. 2S0,0OO. 1.l5O.OOO
Marshfield Town. 1900. 131, 500
Grand Rapids City 350,OOO.. 995, 900
Auburndale VIII. 13,00O.. 42.5OO
Auburndale Town $4,000. 2O3. 900
Lincoln. ......... 5000. 250, 300
Rock . .. 72,000.. 22S. 300
Richtield ........ $1,000. 1S1,5O0
AS an illustration let us take the
city of MarShteld. In 1899 the valua-
tion was fixed at S2S0,0OO. The then
cities of Grand Rapids and Centralia
combined were fixed at $3.50, 900. This
was then considered fair apportion-
ment and a proper ratio of property
values as between the two cities.
1t is said that the purpose of the
board this year was to generally raise
values as three to one, but look at the
figures and see for yourself how well
this was carried out. The city of
Marshfield was raised to Sl,15O,OOO,
more than four times the valuation of
last year: and in the face of this the
city of Grand Rapids which last year
was admitted to be fairly valued at
$3.50, 600, has this year been raised con-
siderably less than three times, it's
valuation being only S995, 900. which is
S155, 200 less than the city of Marsh
field; while if an equal apportionment
and raise had been made on the basis
of last years figures, Grand Rapids
should be S210, 900 higher than Marsh
| field.
This is difference of 1866, 900, and
yet we are expected not to complain.
1t had been hoped that with all the
widely diverging interests between
the two ends of the county we might
live in peace and that the spirit of
| fairness for the past few years would
not prove to be mere mockery, but it
seems that tbs. old spirit will not
down.
1t is thought in Grand Rapids that
the writer of the above complaint has
double purpose in making it. First,
to more firmly unite the people of
Marshfield in the belief that they have
been wronged, and second to use the
ill-feeling thus engendered in an effort
to divide this county. Both shall fail,
| because we shall show that MarShfield
|
by the committee of equalization of
the county board, has in fact been
treated with great leniency, and be-
cause, as regards the second PROPOSE
tion, there is no good reason nor
sentiment for dividing this county at
this time.
The equalization committee of the
county board was composed of the
following well-known citizens of the
county: L. M. Nash, Grand Rapids:
L. W. Pitts, Pittsville: G. S. Nedder,
Marshtield; Fred Schultz, Auburndale:
P. n. Christensen, Lincoln, and E.
Elchsteadt, Port Edwards. 1t will be
observed that the north end of the
county is largely in the majority on
this committee and if there was any
advantage to be derived from it's com.
position it was clearly in favor OF
Marshfield AS a matter of fact some
members of the committee thought
MarShfield should be raised at least
100000 more than the figure finally
fixed upon, but to avoid any possible
grounds for complaint of unfairnesS
L. NJ. Nash, the member from Granc
Rapids, said "No, | would rather thal
you raise Grand Rapids some and lei
Marshfeld remain where it is" anC
this was done, c. S. Vedder, the mem
Der from Marshfeld being perfectly
! satisfied with the outcome anC
thinking, as we'll he might, that
Marshfeld was coming out of the
equalization ordeal with real advan
tage TO her tax payers.
! Now, to give the readers an idea OF
how the committee proceeded in the
adjustment of the taxes between the
towns. we will say that after can
yaSSing the assessment rolls of all the
towns in the county, the town o-
Lincoln was selected as a basis in the
, adjustment of values for the Other
towns, because values in that towr
! were regarded as the nearest to the
committee idea of right. So, instead
! of multiplying values arbitrarily BY
three on past assessments as the New.
states, an entirely new basis wa;
selected from this years assessment
and as above stated the valuations il
the town of Lincoln was taken as
such basis.
The reader must bear in mind that
last years valuations were not taken
as a basis for fixing the valuation this
year, because they were regarded as
unjust and ineouitable in the light OF
the assessors returns of thisy year, and
to take as the News did last years
valuation for comparison is unfair.
. Taking this years returns the total
valuation of real and personal property
in the city Of MarShfield amounts to