The Greeley tribune., 1910-05-05
ASSESSOR'S BOOKS SHOW
INCREASED VALUATION

The Tribunes recently published
articles upon the matter of Increased
valuations and probably increased
taxes in Weld county has caused so
much comment. adverse and other
wise, as well as protest from the as
SCISSORS office. that "a Tribune man
has taken time to go into the matter
quite fully, AT the outset II Is we'll
to state that valuation and taxes
should not be confused. The asses
sor makes the valuations. He raises
or lowers them as he decides the
equities OF the case demand,
Then the county commissioners
for the county, the city council Tor
the city. and the school board for
the district, each meet as separate
body, decide upon the sum OF money
required to run their respective do
partments. and, with the total val
uation as turned in by the assessor
as their guide, decide upon the num-
ber of mills of taxation upon each
dollar OF valuation that will be nee
essary to raise the required sum.
Thus. II, say, the valuation were
10000 and $4,000 were re-
quired to be raised. the rate of taxa
ton would be one per cent. II the
valuation We're to be doubled and
the sum required remained at $10.-
600 the rate will be reduced to one
half of one per cent, and the increase
OF valuation would not increase
taxes.
If, however, ii were found neces-
sary to raise Il larger sum OF money,
then 1t could be had In one of two
ways: either by increasing the val
oil h. a
or by increasing the levy and allow
the valuation to stand.
The only exception is in the case
of state taxes. They remain at four
mills on every dollar, regardless OF
the valuation. Thus. doubling the
valuation doubles the state taxes,
and cutting the valuation cuts the
state taxes. while not necessarily
cutting or increasing the county or
city tax
a pretty thorough inspection of
the assessors books shows that val
uations on real estate in the city,
Ton the bare lots-not on the inn
proyementsp. have been materially
raised, though in no single instance
did the Tribune man find n valuation
in excess of one-fourth of reason
able cash selling price. II is deem
ed unwise to give the names OF tax
payers in connection with the figures
that follow. but IL may be stated that
the per cent OF raise In each block
is practically the same for all lots
therein as in the lots cited.
Thus, corner lot in the block
north Of the Camfield hotel is raised
from xsOO In 1900 to 1850.
A lot in block -, Twelfth avenue
and Fourth street, raised from 1850
to $500. Another from 800 tO $3.50.
In block S:s, in which Senator
Clayton lives, corner, raised from
$3.50 to 5000.
&. II. WoIfe's residence lot. fifty
feet, raised from $3.50 To *aOO.
4 corner lot in block ~. the block
from 500 to x1,1jO.
In the business section. on the
south side II seventh street between
Eighth and Ninth avenues, insisie
lots have been raised from $3.50 to
~ 900. On the north side Of Eighth
street In the same block. from $3.50
to x3.5OO.
In the block In which the new
telephone building is located. . four
lot corner has been raised from
~ ,45O to $4,000.
In the block facing the Normal
school between Eighth and Ninth
avenues, corner lots, nifty feet, have
be,en raised from 1910 to 1880, and
inside lots from x:1.:.sO tO $40.
These are fair samples, taken at
random over the city. In fairness
to the assessors Office It should be
said that, based on the rise in real
| estate values over the city the in
creased valuations are not unjust.
and do not represent anywhere near
tn cash valuations. 1t must also be
kept in mind that each of these lots
cary improvements listed at several
times the valuation OF the lots and
that the valuations OF the improve
ments have not been raised but re-
main the same as last year
II is stated on good authority that
the city cannot cut its tax rate this
year. because OF the extra money
needed to pay on bonds coming due,
and other legitimate demands.
Il The county rate. ii is hoped, may
be reduced somewhat. The school
and state rate will remain as at
present