The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-02-18
THE INCREASE IN TAXES
Due to Laws Passed by the
Last Legislature
CheIan County viii Pay $62,071.56
More This Year Than Last

The taxpayers of Chelan county will
realize that their taxes this year will be
much higher than they were last, says
County Assessor Osborn, and it is
quite proper that they should know
where to place the responsibility for
this increase.
Quite often it is the case that the
taxpayers put the blame for the raise in
taxation on the county officers-the
commissioners court. An examination
of the records will clearly show that the
increase in the tax rate is due to acts
Of the last legislature.
Practically all this years increase is
occasioned by advances in the general
state tax and in the school tax, both of
which must be levied according to the
directions of the authorities of the
commonwealth. In 1908, in Chelan
county, the total tax for all purposes
state, county, municipal, school and
road districts-amounted to S291, ,968.-
So; for 1909, it will return 1854, ,840.-
24, an increase of S62, 2,871.56. Of
this increase, $22, 2,122.54 is occasioned
by raise in the general state levy and
$33,3l0.3l by an advance, made at
| the dictation of the state authorities, in
the county school levy, thus leaving of
the increase but $7,438.71 that has
been levied by county and municipal
officials.
The increase in state tax is due
principally to advances in the rates for
general purposes and for highway pur-
poses. both of which are about double
those of last year. In 1908, the gen.
eral tax amounted to Sl6,508.57; in
1909, it will aggregate $32,298.8o.
The previous highway assessment net
ted IS, ,525.11; the last one will total
$10,774.72. In 1908, the county
commissioners used their own discre-
ton in making the school levy, but
law of the last legislature now compels
them to fix this assessment so it will
realize $40 for every child of school
age in the county; this legislative
enactment has raised the school tax in
Chelan county from S., ,022.82 in 1908
to S38.333.13, in 1909.
The commissioners of the county,"
declared Mr.. Osborn, were compelled
to raise the taxes this year. They had
to take their orders from the state au
thorities. The commonwealth this year
demanded twice as much money for
general and highway purposes as last;
and under the new state law the levy
for county schools was increased almost
eight-fold. With the elimination of
these state and school assessments from
the total increase there is left only
S7,438.71 that can be charged as an
increase due to the levy made by
county. and municipal authorities. While
this year the people of Chelan county
are paying in taxes S62,872.56 more
than they did last year, all but 81, 49,
II. of this increase will be paid to the
state treasurer.
On Monday, February 7th, the taxes
for 1909 became due and payable at
the Office of the county treasurer.
Property holders settling in full prior to
March IS will receive discount of 3
per cent. By paying one-half the
assessment prior to June /, payment of
the other half is extended to Novem-
Der 80. If no payment is made prior
to June /, then the whole tax is de-
linquent and draws IS per cent inter-
est. The treasurer requests that per-
sons bring with them, when they come
to his Office to pay taxes, their last
years receipts or an accurate descrip-
ton Of their property.
In 1908 the state general rate was
1.64; this has been raised for 1909 to
3.12. The state highway rate for 1908
was IS; for 1902 it is 1.o4. These
are the largest items of increase.
How did Harkins act when he