Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-08-24
~3ssss Or rse assoeareo eesss
ASSESSMENT FOR THE YEAR.

ASSESSMENT FOR THE YEAR.
The state board of equalization has
adjourned after session lasting for
more than two weeks. An adjorurn-
ment was taken for several days to
permit the investigation of the value
of several classes of property. the
board at the close of its meeting
made the tax levy for the ensuing
year. The rate of taxation for gem
eral state purpose is three and eight
tenths mills; for wolf bounty two
tenths of mill; for sinking fund
I for state bonds one tenth of a mill
and for the maintenance of educa-
tional institutions one mill. There
was no levy made for the payment
of interest on bonds, the amount in
the state treasury for that purpose
being sufficient for payments to be
made ~
The valuation of property in the
state for purposes of assessment,
4 considering the natural increase Of
4 property values in the state remains
about the same as fixed by the board
of equalization under the Sarles adj
ministration last year. There was
no change made in the assessment
Of railroads. County boards of equl-
ization returned other classes of
4 property not far different from the
values fixed by the state board Of
equalization last year. There has
been some natural Increase of real
property acreage for taxation and
some increases were made by the
stale board. The total valuation of
all classes Of property this year as
liked by the state board is S213 ,3O6,-
$40. Last year it was $19s, 600 600.
he levy for general state purposes
via be $50 ,565, 900.
There has been considerable dis
eussion of real value assessment this
year, but good many changes will
have to be made in the laws before
such valuation scheme will be prac-
ticable The state has tax of one
I mill for educational institutions,
which. levied upon largely increas-
ed valuation, would produce reven-
ue entirely beyond the needs of the
institutions of the state. This tax
for educational institutions is a fixed
tax and was authorized for the pur
pose of raising necessary funds for
tions outside Of the general fund
tax, which on the low valuation OF
the property would not produce rev
enue enough to run the state and
) the institutions, and as the tax was
limited to four mills it was necessary
to find another way to raise addition
4 al funds to defray some of the ex
Denses. The constitutionality of thi.
tax has been questioned, although
not In court and it has been pail
without any legal protest If al
effort had been made, however, Il
levy this mill tax on a largely in
creased valuation, the matter woul,
probably have been taken into court
This tax could be repealed If tn
valuation of property were made gu,
fieient1y high to produce this inclui
ed amount of revenue through TIL
ca four mill tax for general purposes
Another law that will have to b
changed Is the law fixing the sala
les Of county officers. These al
fxed unon the assessed valuation
and II II was largely increased I
once, it would bring all salarie
through the state mp to the max
mum and result Id a complete in
quality of salaries In the larger an
the smaller counties. These salari,
could be based on the amount
tax levied in the counties, and owe
come this di icnlty Then provision
of law are needed better to ascertai
the value Of corporate utility pro
erty, such ait telegraph lines, tel
phone lines, railroads, express cor
panies and similar institutions. Tl
present knowledge Of the value an
income producing properties Of the
utilities is limited Legislation m;
also be asked for tax commssie
10 devise ways and means of gettir
all classes OF property on the roll
Moneys. credits, mortgages and ot
or securities escape taxation largel
and the holder of hundreds Of thou
ands in these properties pays on
proportion Of them ridiculous
Tow There Is an pportunity for.
broad statesman or legislator
sennsge dfstIctlon through prac