The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-19
THE VIEW TAX METHOD.

We wish again TO call attention to
1he report Of the staLe tax commission
and its recommendations OF changes in
the manner of raising revenue for the
state and counties. This is by far the
most iHDor.a ant matter that will come
before the legislature a. its next ses-
MON. The changes Recommended by
the commission are ute 1adical and
should be thoroughly understood by
the people IS we'll as Il legislators
before the latter enter UJon the pro-
posed changes. The p-fncIral changes
recommended by the tax commission
are as follows:
That thu exemptions from taxation
en- personal property De increased from
1850 TO $4,000.
That the poll tax be loved for state,
county AMI school purposes only ~"
not to exceed $500 on the head, and
that no poll tax be levied for municipal
purposes.
Tha the tax rate be limited to 66 2-3
cents on The hundred doIlarG value for
state and county purposes combined.
That the municipal tax rate upon
property be so limited tat, when COM
bined with the state an county tax
rates upon property assessed at it's true
value in money. it can IL home by all
classes of property without being con
nscatory.
That no ad valOrem tax ii levied for
state urposes and IN I.er: Thereof g
h revenUe for state pun uoses be had
from the a on incomes. franchises.
in~heritances and such liTense tay~- as
should properly go into the state treas
ury, e. G.. such revenue as would ac-
Grue from the liquor Traffic. in what
over form Il may exist.
That the revenue for school, county,
and municipal purpOSe3 re had from
the general property tax. and that the
county and municipal tax be supple
mented by taxes on trades and profess
sions end business licenses.
In laying a foundation for these re-
commentators the commission goes
very fully into the present tax CON
ditions. showing the taxes paid on all
classes Of property in the state-total
taxes levied by counties. tow nships and
towns, for the years 1900 and 19O1-the
number, names and V~a'Uat.Cn Of the
property OF all kinds Dli?dn. and loan
associations, and domestic CO.. por~'.
OF every kind by counties-the bonded
Indebtedness \ tax levy of counties,
cities and tOwns-license taxes collected
from schedules "B" and &C" and much
other ste ~tiStical information
The report shows increased valuation
sf all property for taxation for the
year 1901 over that of 1900 to be S4O,-
s12.TOs.
Among other interesting facts regard
ing taxation the report gives the fig
ures as to valuations and amounts of
taxes paid in the different counties and
cities with the different rates of tax
alton. and also the bonded debts of
the counties and cities. New Hanover
has the highest average value OF town
lots. which is 1883. In solvent credits
Forsyth leads with $1,376,377. Wake and
AeCklenburg following. OF bank stock
in the state there is So 49,, O29. at an
assessed value of s6. 654.99 The stock
81 corporations other han railroads is
$685.. 223. at an assessed vaIue of S26.-
enc. G96- OF the counties with the largest
property valuation and paying the most
taxes MeCklenburg leads with Sl4. 727.-
us and s2O1.36S. New Hanover comes
dghth with s9.S39.136 valuation.
In the matter of county bonded n
debtedness MeCklenburg leads with
$4,000 the ota for al the counties
being $2.237.e $50. As To bonded indebted
ness OF cities and towns. which for the
whole state mounts to $4.336.477. Ashe-
vile leads with s7S1. 500. Wilmington
coming ninth With $685.. 400. The total
tax rate for the state, for state ex-
penses. pensions and Chools is I3 cents
on the 500. The average levy. includ-
ing county taxes, for all purposes is 81
cents on the 800. The average includ-
ing towns is Slip on the 800.
There are IS counties with a tax
rate of s1.OO and above: IS over So 2-3
cents and under $1.G0: is at sc % cents.
and 8 under &c 2-3 cents.
A man owning property and living
in the following cities would have been
liable for a tax rate for state. county.
municipal. and all purposes. in the year
1901. a. follows: Raleigh, S2.44 on 500
valuation. $6.43 poll tax: AsheviIle. $3.50
on 500 valuation. s6.52 poll tax; Char
lotte. $2.16 2-3 on 500, valuation, $3.50