Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-04-30
TO INCREASE ASSESSED VALUE
CONTINUED from page ! |

tanned They are not over assessed, as
they sometimes claim; they are really
undervalued in most instances, but 9th
er property being uncervalued to a
much greater extent, makes their as
sessment high. The remedy is, assess
all other property at full value and thus
make the assessment more equitable.
The value of the capital stock should be
determined by the amount of surplus,
undivided profits and value and charac-
ter of business transacted. From this
value the assessed value of building, if
owned by the bank, should be deducted.
Merchants and Manufacturers Stock
Here is where the property owner, as a
rule, assesses himself. It is a good
plan to call for the invoice If man
wants to be square he would not hest
tate to show it, and you are bound to
keep the matter confidential. If he
will not ''show you,'' then use your
Judgment, and don't forget the store
furniture. Four or five stores, each in
voicing $4,000 might vary several hun
dred dollars in real value, owing to
locality, chance for trade, dead stock or
other conditions.
Moneys, Accounts, Notes, ETC. There
thousand dollars in the banks of this
county, and only $4361 on the roll. We
ought to get more than one dollar in
ten and can do so if we have the cour-
age to use our ''doomage power. "
Right here would be good opportunity
to exercise it. The assessor must de-
mand sworn statement from the tax
payer before he can use the doomage
power in assessing monies and credits,
and give notice to the taxpayer of his
assessment.
Logs, Lumber, etc: Get busy the
first day of May and ascertain how
much logs and lumber you have in your
district and the value thereof.
Steam and Other Vessels: Including
anything that floats on water for the
purpose of carrying freight or passen-
gers, either for pleasure or profit
Franchises: Under this title come all
power plants of water or light compan-
les used wholly by the public and not by
individuals. All our electric light plants
should be assessed as real estate or I'M
der the head of
All Other Personal Property: By
enumerating on your assessment blank
larger number of articles ought to re-
suit in a material increase under this
head. If we could have a blank large
enough to hold every article we would
get still larger an aggregate. In this
column is placed every assessable arti-
Gle not enumerated elsewhere You
must exercise your knowledge and
Judgment here for the taxpayer will
not mention an article unless you call
his attention to it. Household furni-
ture, guns, tents, all kinds of farm ma
chinery, store and Office furniture, safe,
typeWriters, diamonds and jewelry and
many other articles come under this
head. The assessor must be W d e
awake and persistent to get all this
on his roll.
Village Lots: Location cuts quite a
figure in placing value on village lots
or buildings thel con. The cost cuts
lesr figure than in any other class of
property. The amount Of rent one re-
ceives or could receive should be con-
Sldered and the amount it would sell for
should it be offesed for sale. Two
thirds the cost to rebuild would not be
far out of the way for an average on
residence property, and three-fourths
on business property, yet these proper
lions are subject to much change when
the real existing conditions are consid-
cred.
Board of Review: 1t is the duty of
the Board of Review to see that all
property taxable of the district is on
the roll and at full value. Some as
SCISSORS leave the valuation of certain
pieces of property until the Board
meets. The Board of Review can not
assess or make changes unless backed
up by sworn evidence, and that means
extra time and expense at time OF
year when the members are busy. So
every valuation made by you should be
full value, if so it will be already
equalized and need but little attention
from the Board. The Board must meet
one day, they cannot meet at nine
o'clock and adjourn, but must keep in
session that day and then adjourn from
time to time to see if their work is not
completed. l will expect you to see
that no illegal changes be made. Don't
be afraid to admit mistake if any
evidence assures you that you did
make one. Do not value real estate at
1926, $345, SAB, $617, it is too close on
forty acre tracts and makes the clerk
more work in computing percentage.
Consult with your town officers, and
if possible, have an understanding and
act tremendously, but if they should
not favor legal assessment, then dc