Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-04-09
The Amount Each County Will
Contribute in 1901.
WApELLO COUNTY IHlR1Y-FIRST
Polk County Pays More Than Any
Other in Iowa and Dickinson Brings
Up the Rear-The Levy Is &c
Mills.

From the returns certified to the
auditor of state by the county audi
tors, it is computed the amount of
state tax authorized to be raised for
the general revenue fund by the levy
made in 1900 and collectable this year,
is $1,404, S28.37. This will be the pro-
ceeds from levy of 2.6 mills, on the
total assessed valuation of the coun-
ties, not considering taxes that are de-
linquent.
In the enactment regarding the gen.
eral levy for state purposes, the legis-
lature in 1900 fixed the amount to be
raised for general state purposes at
81 400, 900. While the executive coun-
Gil fixed on the levy necessary to raise
this sum, it was figured out in the rev.
enue department of the auditors office
what the levy should be. The reports
from the auditors show that the rate
was determined with unusual accur-
acy, q levy of 2.6 miles coming within
but $4,828.37 of raising the exact
amount required
While the total of the amount the
county treasurers are authorized by
the county auditors to collect is ST.
4O4 ,828.37, it is to be borne in mind
that not all of this will be collected.
From experience it is learned the
state gets on an average of over nine
ty-eight per cent of the amount of the
levy, the delinquent list being less
than 2 per cent. On the other hand,
the uncollected tax will be Offset by
the amount of the collections of the
tax ferrets. Hence it is computed
the state will receive this year almost
an even $1,40O,oOO.
In addition to the amount to be rails
ed for general state purposes, there is
a levy of one-tenth of a mill for the
state university and one-tenth of a
mill for the agricultural college These
levies will raise $54 ,031.91 for each in
stitution.
The Levy to Be Made This Year.
In short time the matter of COM
putting the levy to be fixed by the ex-
ecutive council this year, the proceeds
from which will be collected in 1902,
Will be taken up. On or before the
third Monday in June the county audi
tors are required to transmit to the
state auditor, abstracts of the assess
ment in their respective counties. The
second Monday in July the executive
council will meet as a board of equal
ization and equalize the assessments
between the counties. Before the
first Monday in August the results will
have to be certified back to the county
auditors. The executive council can then
fix the rate of the levy. The amount
to be levied for general state purposes
this year and collected in 1902 is ST.
100000, or 100000 more than the
amount to be raised by the tax collec-
lions of the year 1901.
This year real estate assessment
is required by law. 1t is expected
there will be a large increase in the
valuation of real and other property,
and altho the state will levy 100000
more general revenue, yet it is be-
lieved rate of 26 mills, the same as
the rule now in force will be sufficient.
In the revenue department of Auditor
Merriam's office, it is calculated it will
not be necessary to raise the levy
from the present rate in order to get
$1,500,000 on the increased valuation
of property. In 1899 the rate of the
levy was 80 mills.
Wapello Thirty.first.
There are thirty counties in the
state whose taxes are more than Wa.
pello county's. The amount in this
county is $15,219.45. Polk county
pays the largest amount of state tax.
es, the sum due from it being $50,22O..