The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-10
Notwithstanding 2 Large tncreas'
in Valuation.
Increase of 25 Per Cent in Tax
es Is Proposed.
IN CITY AND SCHOOLS.
City Authorities Have Nerve to
Ask For
Forty.TwO Per Cent More Money
Than Last Year.

Than Last Year.
With few. exceptions taxes may pc
higher in Shawnee county notwlth-
standing the large increase IN the
valuation of taxable property ana lIe
uncovering of heavy personal properly
holdings which have previously PeiN
little or no tax.
Real estate in Topeka mas aVeIaseu
an increase in appraisemeht Lor eaA
ton purposes of about three times me
value obtaining last year. whlle 'ae
taxes have been reduced from o4 10
17.2 mills. slightly in excess OF Two
thirds of a reduction but not In pro
portion to the increased appralsemeht.
one property valued at $1,25O last
year is appraised at $4,S50 this year
fhe new value being four times, ap-
proximately. that on which the tax
lew of 1907 was made. Aside from
any special tax which this properly
might have had to pay 1t had
regular state, county ana clty TAX ui
$3.50 the rate of "a mills on every
dollar or $40 on every 800 OF Valua-
ton. This year this same property
must pay under the new appralsement
and new tax levy for the regular state,
county and city tax SS342. rms
amounts to an increase in taxes or
about 25 per cent.
This is taken as a typical case and
averages up pretty well for the Wnoie
city Here and there instances Will be
found where the taxes Will be lowered
by the new rate and valuation, but In
this case 1t is either due to nh exces-
sive valuation of 1907 or low valua-
ton of 1908. Is this right or just?
The state and county tax has more
than lowered the proportionate per
cent but the city and school tax is ad-
vanced to such an extent tnat 1t on
sets all the advantage gained from
the two other rates.
A rate which would mark time with
the increased valuation on real estate
and personal property would have to
be in the neighborhood of IA mills.
Three and two-tenths mills would
therefore have to be shaved off the
present state, county and city levy as
proposed.
The state levy for 1907 was AS mills,
the county 90 mills. For 1908 the
state levy is g mills, the county "a
mills. -szssfss.
The 1908 levy in these two particu-
lars II can be seen has been brought
down about three-fourths. on par
to the greater amount of property LA
BILE for taxation.
The amounts raised by the levies
of 1907 we're as follows:
State levy of As mills.............s 81. 1855. .04
County levy of 93 mills. s........... 1T1.0O6.e "a
Board of education 20 mills. 249.5 20
City levy of 1873 mills. ............. 2H.91.6l
Total 81 mills or...................sI6 .sI65, ,Ss9 40
The amounts proposed to be raised
by the new levies are as follows:
State levy of q mills 81. s46 s6
County levy of pa mills s............ T2.s2i "a
Board of education levy of
City levy OF 10 mills. $50. 20
Total 17.e mills or................s .sS54.5ss. IS
The county and state levies are
based on a total valuation of s72.-
052.067. while the board of education
and the city levies are based on
valuation of s44.344,49s. that of the
city only exclusive of the county.
The board of education levy was 20
mills in 1907, and the city 1919 mills.
In 1908 the board of education asks
for mills and the city 10 mills.
Both instead of lowering the taxes
have raised them.
The property owners of Topeka have
generally and very properly expected
and looked for reduction in
their taxes and when they meet the
actual conditions face to face there is
going to be a storm. and there ought
4. to be. The mayor and councilmen
and school board should observe the
Indications. take to their cyclone cell
lars and then come out and protect
themselves and the welfare of the
citizens by action that will reduce the
taxes of those generally who have
been paying their just proportion.
The new tax law is a good thing a
great thing, but by doing the wrong
thing, by doing unjust things, the
authorities may make a good law un-
popular at the very time it needs en-
dorsement support and notifications
1t is under trial; give it fair one.
The county commissioners and the
state authorities seem to have recog-
nized the situation. The city has not
The former have realized that the
large amount of property brought un-
der taxation, which was evaded be-
fore, such as cash in bank, mortgages
notes and other personal property,
would bring in greater revenue. That
should produce two desirable effects:
First, decrease the taxes of those who
have paid their share in the past: Sec
ond, bring in any needed additional
revenue by reason of growth or in
crease in population.
1t is certainly entirely feasible for
the city authorities. including the
school board, to SO adjust this matter
that they will raise the necessary reye-
nue. and decrease the burdens of tax
alton, just as the new law was expect
ed to decrease them and just as it
should decrease them, because under
the new law there is sure to be more
equitable distribution of taxes. Any
J action on the part of the city authori-
ties that will annull this expected and
proper result can only bring adverse
criticism upon those who seek or per-
nit the injustice, for such it really is.
The iniquity of the situation lies In