The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-22
MUST RAISE
TAX VALUES
Ultimatum of State Tax
Commission,
MUST ASSESS AT so PER CENT
President Mitchell Meets With
Board Of Revenue.
Declares That Property In MontEom-
cry County IL Now Given In mt
Only a Per Cent of
True Worth.
MUST ASSESS AT so PER CENT

In emect, Judge y. mitcneii, RES
ident of the State Tax Commission, told
the Board of Revenue of Montgomery
County yesterday that tax assessments
| In Montgomery County must be rails
ed to 60 per cent OF the actual value
The Board declared that tax assess
ments would be equalized. and asked
Judge Mitchell by what method a fair
valuation of real estate could be ar
Judge Mitchell addressed the Board
yesterday in an advisory capacity, and
while he greeted the members most
cordially and spoke most courteously,
1t was taken for granted that the Tax
Commission, unless the Board of Rev
enue acceded to the suggestions Of
fered by its president, would take the
"The State Tax Commission Goes not
go before you with any air - supe-
riority." said Judge Mitchell. but we
come to advise and consult with you
back"
with this salutation. the Commits
sions President greeted the Board af-
ter having expressed regrets at the
inability of the other members of the
Commission to be present.
Judge Mitchell stated that the pur-
secure an equalization of taxes. In
Montgomery County. he said. some
property was assessed as high as IS
per cent. of its actual value. while some
This. he said, meant that the taxes
should be equalized. The Tax Com
mission, he continued, has a difficult
task TO perform, and It can only be ac-
ton of the County Boards of Revenue.
Valuation of Property.
Judge Mitchell held a list Of about
gomery County, which had Been taken
as a fair sample of the valuations. He
had found from these that real estate
In this county was assessed at only
This was higher than in Mobile. Dallas
derdale now has the highest assess
ment In the State--58 per cent
The honest tax payer doesn't object
to paying his just proportion Of the
taxes" said the President of the Com
mission, but he doesn't want to pay
| more than the others"
I'VE want to know how to reach the
fellow with the bonds" inquired Mr..
Griel.
Let your Assessor get them." re-
Judge Mitchell stated that the Tax
Commission would be satisfied II as
sessments were fixed at so per cent.
of the actual value of property.
Replying to inquiry as to how to de-
termine the actual value. whether ac-
cording to income or purchase price,
Judge Mitchell said It should be fixed
Der. For instance. this year the Board
of Equalization should assess property
according to Its worth on October /,
| 1905.
The remainder of Judge Mftcheirs
talk was devoted to a discussion OF tax
valuations in the state, which he stat
ed. Increased as general thing the
the members of the board appeared to
be men fearless of public opinion, who
would do what they conceived to be
their duty. Before concluding. he COM
MI M tod he nfv TIA
Assessor for the conduct of his Of
flee.
Members of the board were not able
to secure a clear idea of the means
to arrive at fair valuation OF real
estate. 1t was stated by President Ty-
son. of the board, that Montgomery,
being dependent largely on agriculture.
the value of real estate fluctuates. The
questions were. should the selling price
of real estate indicate its actual worth.
or should the income from the prop
! erty, serve as an index to Its value
A statement given out ty the former
| Board of Revenue shows that tax as
| sessments in Montgomery county are
about so per cent. of the real value.
The meeting of the board of revenue
| was attended by President Tyson and
Associates Greil, Lawson and Edson.
The Board of Equalization of Mont
| gomery County meets on the first Mon
| day in June, when assessments Will be
compared. In July, the members will
| inspect property with a view to equali-
| eaton and subsequently complaints OF
citizens will be heard. The board OF
| equalization Is composed of the five
| members Of the board of revenue and
| three CITY members who are George
| Stuart. c. ]. Campbell and Winter
| Thorington.
Should the board of equalization not
assess property according to the stand
| ard of the Tax Commission. the Tax
Commission is empowered to revise the
| assessments.