The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1902-08-07
Mr., Billiard Explains.

10 the taxpayers ana voters Ol IuI-
nam County:
| wish to express my thanks for as
full vote as was given me in the
last primary. | assure you one and
all that have striven hard all along
for the last six years to do III every
way my whole duty as. assessor, at
all times trying to be fair and just
with everyone, and it was certainly
gratifying to see that was not much
"cut" in the last voting, and | wish
to especially thank the whole people
for so many kindnesses shown me
while on my work, assuring you that
/ have always tried to be polite and
painstaking with all so as to expect
it in r6turn.
Now, what wish to say is. that in
my last work over the county | re-
peatedly told the people that under
the new instructions from our COVER
nor, to relist all property, would no
doubt increase the total footing of
my book and of course the levy
would be smaller. This | know
should be the case as all reasonable
people know, but when [ was over
the county and footed up my total
(Which showed quite gain over last
years amounts) there were other in
structions to carry out. The comp
troller had ordered that all lands
which had been sold to the State for
taxes and not yet redeemed or pur-
chased-going back as far as 1880
should be dropped from the tax roll
and not assessed again until same
had been redeemed or purchased.
This work cut nearly six hundred
pieces of land off, and over two hum
bred had been previously cut, MAX
| ing over eight hundred pieces more
thrown off as state lands. The valu-
alton of these lands is over hundred
came the railroad assessment for
1902 (sent in by comptroller) and that
was siXty-seven thousand dollars
short of last years amount. Now,
when things work this way, the total
has decreased instead of increasing,
the millage remains the same, and
of course, with all those who regis
tered their property, will necessarily
pay more, for in nearly every case
the amount of property was increas-
ed.
NY friend Prior told you in re-
cent article that the track was the
law" and III add that the makers of
said track" are our legislators; and
the people and sub officials have to
dance up to this rack instructions
issued) fodder or no fodder" and in
this particular, it seems to be case
of no fodder" Figure 81 mills on
$67 900 and you have the. loss
of the county, then add 5,teniks
more and then you have the rad ~
both the county and state! 80
figure the same on lands cut for ta&te1,
and you have quite loss. Alachua
county's loss for lands in this way
was about 100000 and the cut in
railroad assessment about $4,000.
So, while the people have increased
theirs the railroads have decreased
theirs. These figures are given that
the people may know why the same
high taxes are against them and may
not be disappointed when the time
comes to pay same.
These new instructions, while they
may be all right, they simply work
hardships on some. Our collector
has instructions to put into his error
sheet (Which is to be submitted to
the county commissioners this week.
all those lands stricken from the tax
role, and same is charged up against
me, the present assessor, when in do
ing so it takes in the work of my pre-
deceSsOrs as far back as 1880, and
causes me.tO Fay now for what wasn't
done then, and not only this, but it
makes the error sheet appear large
when I'm told there are less double
assessments than before. The amount
chargabIe against me is not so hurt
ing, but it is the enormously large
error sheet shown as my errors when
not all mine.
This is written to let all know what
to expect and to know why matters
as pertains to taxation didn't work
as l expected and stated.
G. F. BULLARD.