Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-05
RE.ASsEssMENT OF PROPERTY.

Mr.. John j. Hunter; audltor Ior
York county. has just received from
the comptroller general, a letter CIV
ing detailed instructions as to how
he must proceed in the assessment or
property next year. The letter, so
far as it is of particular Importance
70 the average taxpayer Is as follows:
Under Code Of Laws Of South Caro-
lima, sections $40 and 267, authority
Is given the comptroller general to
prepare and transmit all forms and
instructions he may deem necessary
to carry into effect the provisions or
the tax laws and to decide all ques-
tions which may arise as to the true
construction of the same. The IN
structions thus given shall be obeyed
by, and the decisions thus made shall
be binding upon all county, town
and municipal officers-Code of Laws,
section $40.
have had prepared an abstract Of
the tax laws, which has been approv-
ed by the attorney generals office,
and these laws are transmitted for
your guidance in the assessment of
property and other duties connected
with the tax department.
In the assessment OF property
commencing January 1st, 1906, coun-
ty auditors will require Of all tax
payers an itemized return Of all prop
erty subject to taxation "at its true
value in money" which Is construed
to mean 1.-The sum for which said
property under ordinary circum-
stances would sell for cash."
All returns must be sworn to and
no return will be considered either
r6C @
assessors, unless sworn to. The re-
sponsibility for full and detailed re-
turn Of all property subject to taxa
ton and its assessment at It's true
value in money, rests primarily with
the county auditors-code Of laws,
sections, 363, 364, 365. Before the
returns are placed before the town.
ship board Of assessors, county audi
tors will require each member Of such
board to subscribe to the following
oath before entering on the discharge
Of their duties:
South Carolina,
County or ...........
I........--.., do solemnly swear
Cor affirm that I will, so far as the
duty devolves upon me, to the best of
my knowledge and belief, assess,
equalize and value "at its true value
in money" all property under my
supervision, and equalize the same as
between the taxpayers in my township
Getty or village as the case may be).
Sworn and subscribed before me
this. =. day Of ....... .190....
Filed in the county auditors office
...... .190..."
Township Boards of Assessors.
1t Is the duty Of township boards Of
assessors to personally examine each
piece Of property in their respective
townships and to assess 1t at its true
value in money, sum at which, in
their judgment. said property under
ordinary circumstances would sell for
cash. The true value in money or
market value at which you are re-
auired to assess real estate and per-
sonal property for the purpose Of tax
alton, does not mean its extreme val
ue, exchange value or prospective val
ue, but the actual selling value. True
value in money, selling value and
market value, are synonymous terms
and have been appropriately defined
to be the sum which a willing pur-
chaser is prepared to pay, and which
a willing seller will accept. Discrim-
nation must not be made In favor or
or against any kind of taxable proper
ty. Equalityis the fundamental princi-
pie in taxation, and it is only byan ad-
herence to this principle that justice
can be done to all taxpayers. You
are to assess all property regardless
of any previous value fixed by form
er boards. Whenever the valuation
or assessment Of any property is fixed
at a sum greater by 500 or more,
than the amount returned by the
owner. or his agent. the county audi
tor must give notice to the owner or
agent in writing Of such increase; II
they object to such valuation and as
sessment. they have the right to ap-
peal to the county board Of equaliza-
tion-code, section $50. The township
board in assessing the value shall not
reduce the aggregate valuation In
their township below the aggregate
valuation returned by the county au-
ditor.
County Board Of Equalization.
Your duties are Ito fairly and i'm
partially equalize" the real and per-
sonal property in the county as fixed
by the township and special board Of
assessors, so that each tract, lot or
piece of property shall be entered at
it's true value, and particularly to
euualize as between townships-code.
section 381. Shall hear. act upon and
determine all appeals from the town.
ship and special boards Of assessors
code. section 381. They shall raise the
valuation of such real and personal
property as in their opinion has been
assessed below their true value to
such sum as they believe to be their
true value. The notice Of their action
must be given the owner Of such
property or his agent. They shall
not reduce the aggregate value Of real
and personal property below the ag-
gregate value thereof, as assessed by