The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-04
Commissioners Made Reduction
of Fraction of Mill.
Increased Valuation Is Respon-
sible for This.
OVER A HALF MILLION.
Records Show There Is That
Much More Property.
There Will Be Some ssTrust to
Luck" About Taxes.

The county commissioners decided
last night. after a long session of the
board. that the Shawnee county tan
levy for the coming year shald be 1920
mills, a reduction of 80 mill less than
the tax last year.
The commissioners felt able to make
the reduction despite the additional ex~
pense to the county which will likely be
incurred on account of the food from
the reason that the assessed valuation
of taxable property in the county is
much larger than last year.
In 1902 the assessed valuation was
sic, PIP, and the assessed valuation
for 1903. as returned by the assessors, is
81, ,700,59S, an increase of 1892, 1856.
Had it not been for the flood the tax
levy would probably have been reduced
from half to three-quarters of a mill,
as Shawnee countys financial standing
is excellent and on the first of January
the county commissioners were able to
pay off $4,000 worth of Santa Fe bonds
then due.
The commissioners have been deter
mined for many months to reduce the
county levy, and when the greatly in,
creased assessment value was reported,
as result of County Clerk Newmans s
announcement that he would use the
power of his office to get after those
who evaded paying a just tax, the COM
mlssioners saw bright prospects of con-
sidera BILE reduction The flood however
offset these hopes somewhat.
The commissioners decided not to levy
the 80 of a mill permanent road tax and
thereby make a saving. The state tax
has been raised from SOC mills to $50
mills and this added to the difficulties
which confronted the commissioners
/ The rebate in taxes. which will be al
lowed by the commissioners on property
damaged or destroyed by the food, will
gretly reduce the assessed valuation.
What this will be the commissioners can
not determine until all the claims for
| rebates are in on September / and the
board investigates the claims. The COM
mlsSioners, however, decided to make a
reduction or 80 mill and trust to the
/ county having sufficient funds with
which to meet expenses.
! The state calls on Shawnee county TO
raise $4,000 and had it not been for the
fact that the state allowed Shawnee
county reduction in assessed valuation
| of S2,323. .S34 or IS per cent on the as
sessed valuation as reported to the state
4 a levy of 6.04 would have been necessary
to raise this amount. With the in
creased valuation and the fact that the
| reduction in valuation was allowed,
which made the amount to be raised
$9S, 600, the commissioners found that
| they would be able to raise the fund for
the state with $50 levy, an increase of
IL mill over last year instead of an in
crease of nearly mill. Instead of pay
ing state tax on $17, 7,700.597 Shawnee
county pays on $15,376. 1853.
The assessed valuation in 1902 was
SIC, 9OS, PIP. The tax levy was 1850 mills
and this raised S254. .468. In 1903 the as
sessed valuation is ST., 700, ,598. The levy
will be 1920 mills and the sum expected
to be raised by that levy, not consider
ing the rebate in flood taxes to be made,
will be 1855 1853.
In 1896 the assessed valuation was
6,247, ,T61 and the levy was IL mills.
/ In 1897 the assessed valuation was
SIG, PIT 507 and the levy was Is mills.
In 1898 the assessed valuation was
SIS, IL, ,344 The tax levy was 1920 mills.
In 1899 the assessed valuation was
$15, ,239, ,0S6 The tax levy was IA mills.
| In 1900 the assessed valua ton was
$16,299, 146 The tax levy was IA mills.
In 1901 the assessed valuation was
SIG, $50, 425 The tax levy was 1880 mills.
The increased levy was due to the 1.50
mill levy for bridge funds and the 80
permanent road levy
| In 1902 the assessed valuation was SIG,
sos. PIP and the levy remained 1850, as in
1901, as the bridge and permanent road
levies were made.