The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-07-01
Big Blocks of Personal Property
Will Remain for Taxation in
Kenosha for Another Year
INCREASE In ASSESSMENT
Assessors Receive Notice That There
Will be no Falling Of in Per
sonal Property and Real
Estate Shows Increase


sors of the city have been given ray
of hope for betterment Of the fnan-
cial condition of the city by the large
returns of personal property for the
present year and the assessors now be-
lleve that the assessment for this. year
will be even larger than in the preced-
ing year and it is just possible that
it will reach the high water mark and
pass the $18,000,000 mark. At the
time Nhe assessors began their work it
was stated that it was possible that
the city would lose large amount of
personal property assessed in Kenosha
last year, the total of it being consid-
erably over million dollars but reports
made up to this time show that all the
returned for taxation in Ke-
nosha last year will be returned again
this year and there will be a decided
addition to the amount of the personal
Many of the factories of
the city who last year allowed their
stocks to run exceedingly low ON ac-
count of the panic have stocked up
again and this year they will volun-
tarily make an increase in their as
sessment for personal property. The
vast property of the Balm and Newell
estates will remain taxable in this city
this year and this is one of the largest
items on the personal tax roll of the
city. Members of the families inter
ested in these estates have not been
in Kenosha, but they have elected to
have this their home and with such
an election the property is returned
for taxation here. This makes
large sum to be paid to the city as
taxes, the total taxes paid by these
estates being between ten and twenty
thousand dollars.
There will be some increase in the
real estate and improvement assess
ment this year as several of the fac
tories have built large additions since
the last assessment was made and The adj
ditions will come in for taxation this
year for the first time. The city will
meet with small sized loss in taxes
on account Of the fact that the taxes
of the Racine Refrigerator and Ice
Making Machine Company have been
for term of three years, but
this small loss will be made up many
times by the addition of new build
ings built in the city during the year
just closed.
The assessors are making decided
ly careful assessment this year and it
is the plan to have every piece of
property properly assessed this year
if possible. This plan has brought
about the change in many assessments
and while few of the assessments have
been raised in any large amount it has
been the idea Of the assessors to make
slight changes in order that the as
when completed may be an
equitable one. There were few com
plants on the assessment last year, but
the assessors themselves have found
places where values should be revised
in fairness to all property owners and
these changes are being made without
any demand from the property owners.
The Council has given up all hope
Of securing money to take care Of the
expenses of the city with one, per
cent levy, but an effort will be made
to reduce the levy to the lowest posi-
bic figure. If the assessment is equal
Dr. greater than the assessment made
last year it is hoped that twelve
mill levy will be sufficient to provide
for the running expenses of the city
next year. Such a levy, however,
would not make possible any great
amount of public improvements on &C
count of the fact that the city will be
forced to meet big increase in the
amount to be paid to the state and
county.