Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-07-09
CITY ASSESSMENTS

To the Editor of the Alexandria Gazette:
Dear Sir "A short time ago, so the
story goes, stranger thought to buy q
certain piece of business property To-
Gated in our community. The property
is more or less desirably situated, but
it is we'll rented, and, as consequence,
the owners price is $500. The first
inquiry of the stranger was as to our
tex rate, and upon his being informed
ne is reported to have exclaimed {:
"What and with such streets? Why,
what DO your officials do with the
money ?" Desiring evidence in addi-
ton to that furnished by its rental
value in proof that it was worth $500,
the stranger visited the assessors office
and there learned that the property
wss assessed for 81 800. Tableaux.
While l will not vouch for all of the
details OF the above incident-jt is a
fact that the owners price is $500,
and it is also a fact that the piece of
property in question is assessed for
,500-still, it so tersely and yet 80
clearly exposes the clogs upon our
growth and prosperity, that l may be
pardoned for repeating it.
That our tax-rate is clog, will not
be denied. Can it be reducedP 1t can
be actually reduced by the adoption OF
A modern method OF assessment. But
as it appears to be difficult TO secure
favorable action upon that important
matter, will an apparent reduction
benefit the community?
Our present tax rate is $1.90, with a
10 per cent discount, if paid before
July ]; and 5 per cent. discount, If
paid before september l.. A rate OF
$40 with 5 per cent. penalty if
lot paid by July l; and 10 per
cent. penalty if not paid by
September l, would produce, practical
~, the same amount of revenue. Which
rate will more favorably impress the
stranger, or the prospective investor ?
Which rate will furnish the better ad-
gertisement? Which rate will be the
more likely to induce enterprise aud
.hrilt to come in and aid US? Which
rRte is the more advantageous to the
community?
That our method Of assessment is a
clog, is not so apparent; but that it real
" is such, is true none the less. 1t is
A clog, first, because it compels us to
maintain an injuriously high tax rate;
iecond, because it results in inequality
of taxation; third, because strangers
aud prospective investors are thereby
ed to undervalue our property; fourth,
because it fails to furnish information
necessary for the proper determination
of tue present market value of our real
estate.
Today the present market value of
any piece OF our real property is practi-
cally determined by our guessing what
it would bring at future forced sale.
A means of determination, so unjust,
so unscienti6c, so unbusiness.like that
it results in our property, practically,
naviug no present market value what
ever.
That the condition of our streets is q
clog will not be seriously denied. Their
present condition is largely owing to
our high tax rate; and our high tax
rate is largely owing to the fact that
our lack of streets and sewers is
check upon enterprise and thrift; and,
gain, our high tex rate and the con"
dilion of our streets are largely owing
o our unscient6c, unjust and unbusi-
oess-lke method of assessing. Let us
all make a hearty and determin-
ed effort to remove these clos
upon our growth and prosperity; and
having made some effort to help our
selves we may with reason. justice and
COL fidence ask others to come in and
help us. Yours truly.
JAMES BAYNE.