The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-04
TO GET MORE PAY
County Clerks Will Have an
Extra Allowance.
Tax Commission Holds They
Are Entitled to 1t.
FOR WRITING ROLLS.
Letter of Information Is Sent
Out.
FOR WRITING ROLLS.
Commission Doesn't Want to
Impose Unwarranted Duties.

|
| state tax commission containing the
following:
Ordered: That the work imposed
upon the county clerks in making the
real estate assessment rolls pursuant
to the order of the commission of
date October %, 1907. the county
| clerks shall be paid by the several
counties extra compensation in a sum
equal to what would be required to
secure the services of efficient clerical
help for the performance of such ex-
ira work.
This order is directed to the county
commissioners of the state and it re-
mains to be seen how the county COM
missioners will like to take orders"
from the state tax commission rela-
tive to the expenditure of the county
funds. The law unequivocally gives
to the tax commission the right to
supervise and control the work of the
county commissioners in all matters
pertaining to the administration of
the assessment and taxation laws.
In explaining why it is necessary to
order the county commissioners to
pay the county clerks extra for max
ing out the assessment rolls, the tax
commission says in a letter accom-
panying the above order:
Information has come to the tax
commission that some boards of coun-
" commissioners are not certain OF
their authority to compensate the
county clerk for writing up the real
estate assessment rolls pursuant to
the order of the commission made and
published on October %. 1907.
1.-THE whole tenor of chapter 40s,
laws of 1907, is for the creation of a
system of uniform assessment and
taxation in all counties of the state.
1t is made the duty of the tax COM
mission, under heavy penalties, to see
~. lou t. tor until IN oil
particulars. The commission must
itself equalize the assessment of prop
erty at it's actual value in money, not
only among the townships and cities
which are taxable, but among the coun-
ties themselves To this end, it is i'm
portant that the work be done alike in
all counties in order that the commits
sion may have the same basis to oper-
ate from in all counties. 1t was under
the provisions of the law which re-
uuires that the commission shall pro-
vide a uniform method of keeping the
tax rolls and books relating to taxa
ton in each county of the state that
the order was made. Under the old
plan there was anything else but uni |
formity.
1.-THE old lawIwas ambiguous and
was variouslyi1 Interpreted In many
counties, it has been the practice for
clerk to do this work because of the |
better results obtained while in 9TH |
ers the work has been done BY the as
SCISSORS, but in either event the county |
has paid for the work The informa-
ton brought to the commission, led |
to the unavoidable conclusion, that
the interests of the state and of it's
demanded that this plan |
be adopted. Counties will undoubted-
ly save money by this method. 1t
can not be disputed, that an efficient
clerk in the office of the county clerk !
and under the direction of the county |
clerk, can do this work quicker, bet !
ter and at less cost, than can the |
deputy assessor. The commission be- |
lieves that the compensation which |
would go to the deputy assessor whilo |
writing the rolls, can be better ex- |
pended by giving it as extra compen- |
lieved that in nearly all the counties, |
the amount paid to the county clerk |
for doing the work or getting> it done |
in proper manner, Will be less than !,
would have to be paid to the deputy !
assessors for doing it and certainly the |
work will be done more efficiently |
and with greater dispatch and uni
formity.
''It is not the intention of the COM
to impose on any officer un- /
or unnecessary duties. Be- |
ing the responsible central authority |
of the assessment system for the en-
tire state, the commission may neces-
sarily have to occupy a different view
point from that of local officers. but it
will not seek to do anything which
the law does not seem to require In
order to make its operation effective.
'In view of what has been said. and
as a matter not only of efficiency but
also of economy to the various coup-
ties, the order was made as has been
noted, and believing that this extra
work of the county clerk should be
makes and enters of record the fol-
lowing further order in the premises