The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-08-01
Assessors Believe That increased
Valuations May Result in a
One Per Cent Tax Levy
VALUES LARGELY DECREASED
Total Assessment Will Reach Seven
teen Million Dollars, an Increase of
More Than Two Million Dollars
Over That of Last Year

There is glad news for the taxpayers
OF the city in the annual report of the
assessors which is now being pre-
pared, and the members of the Board
of Review declared this morning that
there would certainly be a reduction
of the taxes for the coming year. It
was stated this morning that one
per cent levy would be sufficient to
take care Of the expenses Of the city
for the coming year. The dream of a
one per cent tax levy has been held
by the taxpayers for years, but it has
not come true. Last year the levy
was thirteen mills, and at the present
time the city treasurer has to his bal
ance nearly seventy-fve Thousand dol
| lars, and it looks as if at the end of
the year there would be balance in
the city treasury. Such an unheard
Of event would be most gratifying to
the taxpayers, and with balance on
hand 1t does appear that there should
| be chance for reduction There
will be 30 great ppropriation for
school buildings this year and just at
| present there is no great municipal
Improvement to pay for. The assess
ors claim that the total valuation of
the property this year will be in the
neighborhood of $l7,OO0,O00, an in
crease of more than So, 600, 900 over the
valuation made last year.
Much of this increase is in the
personal property for considering
only the very large assessments the
total of the personal is considera bly,
over the total for last year. There
has also been a great increase in the
of the real estate of the city. The
admission of Rice park to the city
brought with it property which is
valued at $4,000 and the great in.
crease in the buildings of the various
manufacturing plants has also
brought a large increase. It is
thought that the increase in the real
estate values will be no less than a
million dollars.
| With thirteen mill tax last year
the city raised $184, 843.6 90 and added
to this the city received for saloon
licenses more than $4,000, bringing
the grand total of the receipts up tc
S222, 843. With one per cent levy on
valuation of $17 900, 900 the city would
receive $4,000 or little less than
SIS, ZOO less than the regular tax levy
for last year. Since last year, how.
ever, quite number of saloons have
been added to the list in Kenosha an6
the amount to be received from the
saloons for the next year is placed al
$46, 600 SO that the total amount re.
ceived with a one per cent levy.will be
within 81, 900 of the amount received
with the thirteen mills levy.
With the amount in the treasury al
the present time and the reductions
from the fact that no school building
is to be erected, the city should be
able to have large balance on han6
at the end of next year with the
smaller levy. While it is just posi-
bic that the city could get along with
less than one per cent levy, there is
little reason ito believe that a less
levy would be made by the Council
as for years the members Of that body
have been looking for sinking fund
and with one per cent levy it should
be possible to lay aside quite little
money for the future Improvement OF
the city.
The levy will not be made until the
first meeting in December, but the
members of the committee will begir
the consideration Of it just as soon as
the reports of the assessors have beer
filed.
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