Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-07-23
The Tax Rate.

The White Oaks Eagle complains that
the rate of taxation in Lincoln county,
1852 cents on the dollar, is too high.
Upon first sight the complaint seems
justified, out when it Is remembered
that property in New Mexico is gener-
ally assessed at less than one-quarter
or one-half of it's true value, and that
much property escapes taxation alto
gether, then the wonder is that Lincoln
county can get along with a rate of 3.52
cents. New Mexico counties have much
smaller expenses than have the major
ity of counties in eastern states, where
most counties maintain a poor house or
poor farm, a county court, expensive
jails, build ~macadamized roads and
keep schools open ten months instead
sors throughout the territory were to
assess all property at one-half of its
true value the tax rate in Lincoln oun
ty and in other counties would be only
assessors of New Mexico return the
value of taxable property in New Mex
leo at $40, 900, 900, while in reality it
couldn't be bought for five times as
much. The Albuquerque Citizen, speak
ing upon the same subject, says:
1.-THE recent action of the commits
creditors only Is per cent of the amount
| of their claims and prorating all avail
| able funds among the officers and cred.
itors of the county on that basis has
created so much comment that the Cit
izen deems it not Inappropriate to make
some comments thereon, and also to
take advantage of this occasion to say
something of a. matters generally in
this county and territory.
Many residents of this city seem i'm
pressed with the idea that all taxes
lected by the treasurer of this county
go into the pockets of the officers and to
pay the comparatively few creditors of
the county; and, taking this view of the
matter, it is not surprising that SC
many people feel sure that the officers
of the county are growing rapidly rich
at the expense of the general public.
When an investigation is made, and it
is ascertained for what purposes taxes
are levied by the commissioners, 4 very
different case is presented.
IAN inspection of the tax rolls OF Ber-
nalillo county by n familiar with the
values of property in the city of Albu-
querque, the town of Gallup, and
throughout the county generally, will
disclose the fact that property is gener-
ally assessed at from one-third to one-
eighth to one-tenth of it's actual value.
Notwithstanding that the statutes of
New Mexico require property to be re-
turned for taxation at its actual cash
value, and people who swear to a re-
turn, putting their property at less than
it's cash value, are guilty of perjury and
subject themselves to all the punish
ments which might be inflicted for the
commission of that crime, very few peo-
pie return their property for more than
one-third of it's actual value. This de-
sire on the part of our people to return
their property at less than it's value
naturally results in increasing the rate
of taxation. To realize the amount of
money required, on a valuation of $5,-
600, 600, would require a rate three times
as high as would be necessary to raise
the required amount on a valuation of
SIS, DOC, 900. So that by swearing to a
low valuation for the evident purpose
Of decreasing the amount of taxes they
should pay, our citizens only accom-
plish one thing-the raising of the rate.
AS they all play at the same game, they
gain no advantage one over the other,
for the increase in the rate makes up
for the corresponding diminution of the
value they all place upon their proper
ty. The direct result of this system is
seen in the hue and cry which is annu-
ally raised against the high rate of tax
in this city, which would not be
heard II the people generally would re-
turn their property as by law provided,
place a fair valuation thereon, which
would result in decreasing the rate in
this city from " to 1h per cent, and in
the precincts outside of the city to from
y to l per cent.
Another fact hat should be borne in
mind Is that it is the interest paid on
the already large debt of this city and
county which at the present time so in
the rate of taxation. Bernalillo
pays interest on $347, 500 in
bonds, and the city Of Albuquerque |
bays interest on about l 10000"
Isn't the situation the same in almost
very other county in the territory, and
it time that the remedy be applied
" the boards of county commissioners
md the territorial board Of equaliza-
ion?