The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-09-03
MANY PROBLEMS TO SETTLE
Stale Board Of Equalization Has
Work Ahead
| BOARD BEGINS SESSIONS TOMORROW
QUESTION whether OR NOT TO
REDUCE ASSESSMENTS
ALL OVER STATE.
BOARD BEGINS SESSIONS TOMORROW

When the state board of equaliza-
ton meets tomorrow to fix the valua-
ton of property of the counties for
state purposes and levy tax for next
year, it will be confronted with several
nice problems In government finance,
says a despatch from Olympia.
By concerted action the counties
have increased the valuation of prop
erty all over the state. In some cases
the increase is reported to be as much
as 100 per cent There is not only
more property to assess than there
was last year by the property that was
in existence last year is assessed at
more nearly it's true value, it is as
serted.
One of the questions that will arise
at the session of the state board is
whether it is better to accept the high
er valuations for state purposes ana
reduce the tax levy or lower the valu-
atoms somewhat and let the levies
remain where they are
Taxpayers against whom a higher
property this year will naturally ex-
pect either a reduction in the levy or
toto
The situation is made complex be-
cause of the law governing the school
levy. The law provides that the levy
shall not be less than five mills on
the dollar for the public schools until
of the levy, plus the income from the
permanent school fund, will create an
amount equal to SO for each child In
the state between the ages of five and
twenty-one years. When that time is
reached, the levy for the public schools
may be reduced,
May Not Be Reached.
1t is a question whether that amount
will be reached this year, assuming for
the time that the state board of equali-
cation will let the county valuations
stand for state purposes at about what
they are for county purposes.
Last year the valuations of property
in the state were equalized at about
1928, 100000. The five-mill tax for the
schools produced about $1,642 900. There
were 2O7,O99 children of school age last
year.
Dividing the proceeds of the levy by
the number of school children one finds
that the amount per child last year
was a little less than IS out of the levy
only.
If the total valuation of the property
in the state this year reaches $500, 000,-
900 and the state board of equalization
decides not to reduce the valuations for
state purposes then the school levy
could be somewhat reduced. For a
five-mill tax on $500, O0O,O 900 would pro-
duce about two and one-half millions
Of dollars.
This year there are 1891 children
of school age in the state, according to
figures compiled by State Superin-
tendent Bryan. A fund of two and
one-half million dollars would give for
each person of school age little more
than $11, not counting the income from
the permanent school fund.
So the question will probably be
whether to reduce the valuation of
property or reduce the levy.
Makes Three Levies.
The state board of equalization
makes three levies: One for the gener-
al fund; one for the public schools,
and one for military purposes.
The military levy must be one-tenth
of a mill on the dollar, so if the board
decides to let the valuations remain
up for state purposes, the military
fund will be considerably benefited as
will the school fund.
The levy for the general fund as
made last year is two and One-half
mills on the dollar. This is the levy
that provides funds TO run the state
government and support the state in
stiutions. This levy may be reduced
to any figure the board may choose.
1t can not be increased beyond three
mills.
Before the levies are made and the
valuations for state purposes fixed, the
state board of equalization will esti-
mate the expenses of the state govern
ment for the next year in order that
the income from taxes may be equal
to the outlay.
The state board Of equalization is