The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-18
WANT TO KNOW.
City to Investigate the Overdue
Taxes.
Council Authorizes the Employ
ment of Experts.
COUNTY HOLDS THEM.
No Longer Any Tax Sales in
This County.
City Wants to Be Given a Share
of Profit.

If the city of Topeka can not secure
from the commissioners of Shawnee
county any part of the special tax due
upon property gone to tax sale and
bought by the county, without waiting
until the three years which the county
holds it has expired. and if it can re-
ceive no compensation for waiting that
length of time for its share, it is at least
free to ascertain the exact amount of
unpaid tax now due it by an investiga-
ton of the county tax rolls. At last
nights council meeting this is what the
county decided to do Edward Wilder,
a member of the board of education
from the Third ward who was present
at the meeting. volunteered the opinion
that the board of education would wish
to make a similar investigation of its
overdue taxes and would share the ex-
pense of a joint investigation. A reso-
luton was passed authorizing the en-
ployment of experts to go over the tax
rolls for this purpose. Assistant County
Treasurer F. c. Bowen and ex-County
Clerk ]. M. Wright will probably do the
work. 1t win cost about $50 to get the
information desired.
At intervals for three years the city
authorities and members of the board
of education have protested unavailing-
ly against the feature of the state law
which gives the county the advantage in
the collection of delinquent taxes.
Eventually the city will get its tax
money without interest. The county will
collect and keep Is per cent interest
upon all delinquent taxes. Where the
city has levied special taxes for an i'm
provement and the cost of the improve
ment must be paid from the fund so
created, it is compelled to issue its war
rants for the work and pay interest on
them until such time as the money
comes into its control
The state law complained of makes it
not compulsory but optional with the
board of county commissioners that the
county treasurer shall buy up all lands
upon which taxes become delinquent.
The county holds tax certificates for
this land. AT any time within three
years the owner of the land may re-
deem it by the payment of back taxes
and interest upon the sum- At the ex-
piration of three years the land is Of
fered at public sale, the purchaser be-
ing given a tax deed for it. Thus, at the
end of three years the taxes may be
collected and the state, county, city and
the board of education may receive the
portions due them.
There is no means of readily ascer-
tanning the exact amount of the out
standing tax due either the city or the
board of education. There is now out
standing $4,000 of sidewalk warrants for
1901 and Sc 200 for 1902, all of which
would have been paid had the taxes
been received Every year the CITY is
compelled to make up a deficiency in
the installments due on paving bonds
and interest which would not occur
were all the taxes paid. but the amount
of this can be learned only by inspect
ing the county tax rolls.
There is no probability that the coun-
! ty will recede from its policy of holding
lands for unredeemed taxes, as it is now
doing. The state law fully authorizes
/ it and the county makes Is per cent.
| interest which formerly went largely
tificates on land which, on account of
it's value. was likely to be redeemed
soon by it's owner. The county COM
missioners indicated their unwillingness
| to alter their course two years ago when
I the matter was brought before them by
| Mayor Hughes. The present board has
never discussed a change. 1t COM
menced taking up tax certificates in
| 1900, so that next year the first INSTALL
ment OF tax sale property will go be-
fore the public for sale. County Clerk
! Newman today stated that in every
case where property was worth redemp-
ton 1t was always redeemed by its
owner before the expiration of the three
years. He said other property would
not be sold readily, and that the city
1 is probably getting its share of the
taxes as rapidly under the present sys-
tenn as it would under any other.
Last nights action by the council fol-
| lowed an explanation of the situation
| by City Clerk ]. H. Squires, who rec
commended an investigation of the
amount of outstanding tax due the city.
The matter will probably be taken up
at once.