Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-11-23
A CENTRAL TAX AUTHORITY.

Governor Mead in his inaugural
message to quote from the chapter
on taxation, said: Il would recon-
mend that our statutes be so amended
as to provide for state central au-
thority IN some form that shall have
a proper degree of oversight of the
administration of the laws in our
cities and towns relating to taxa
tiOn." He suggests that the COM
missioner of taxes might be given
this power. He further says it should
be the policy of Vermont to correct
any feature in the law that works in
justice to anyone, that just and fair
results be obtained from and for all
and to Impose the burden of support
of the government equitably among
all men,"
AS yet the Monitor has noticed no
bills in the legislature aiming toward
the correction of any of the evils of
our present taxation system. AS
Governor Mead we'll says in his mes
sage from which we quote, too radi-
cal laws would not be wise, but the
suggestion of central tax authority
with some power to adjudge and ad-
just glazing injustices would seem
to the Monitor to be a wise and
good law, and the added expense
would be trifing. We now have the
tax law interpreted and administered
by two hundred and forty-six odd sets
of men and there is no appeal or re-
dress from the rulings of any one of
the 246 authorities, all Of which nee
essarily vary as widely as 246 person
alities will vary.
We hear of double taxation, escape
from paying taxes, differentiation,
etc, but there are also glazing exam
pies of generalization of property for
taxation from which no relief is
found. The Monitor happens to know
of one such case and all Of it's details,
and proposes to speak Of it here. The
case is one from this county, and
from the town of Lowell. There is
abuse of town authority here, one
from which there should be some way
to get relief. A central tax author
ity with only mild laws behind it
could remedy this as we'll as hundreds
Of other similar cases of injustices of
various natures.
A piece of wild land in the town of
Lowell is in the list and taxed at
$500. The land is owned by a non
resident of the town, and let US say
here that the Monitor has it from
more than one source that the town
Of Lowell appears to have DISPOSE
tion to value the property of non
residents above what seems to the
owners reasonable, especially when
comparing their valuations with that
of resident tax payers. The owner
of the land taxed at $500 appeared
before the listers at grievance time
but failed to get relief Appealing
from them to the board of civil au,
thority as the law directs, the owner
still gets no relief. In his appea
before the board, however, he offered
the property to anyone for $500
Some of the board purported to wan
the property, but have decided to tn
contrary now, and the owner
although repeatedly trying to find
customer for the property at $500, i
compelled to pay taxes on $500 an
will be so compelled to do for fou
years. The only redress as the lay
now stands is for the party to pa
taxes under protest for four year
and then sue the town for overtaxa
tion. There is not justice here an
the listers of Lowell when they tax
their oath 1--WE do solemnly swea
that we have set down all of the res
estate situated in the town of Lowell
according to the best of our inform;
tion, and we have appraised the sam
at its just value in money!" must hay
very peculiar ideas of just value
when they refuse to purchase prope
ty at 50 per cent of their own valu
ton. which they swear to be just.
Other nonresident taxpayers
Lowell have offered their proper
to anyone in Lowell or elsewhere
the figures of the appraisal but fiji
no customer. 1t is gross iniustic
such as these that need immeC
ate remedy, and such remedy could
easily, simply and inexpensively a
justed by little legislation giving
a central tax authority.
Such a course as is taken in Low
is considered very poor policy indie
for town, but that does not bri
any relief to the nonresident t
payer.
After a 10 days rest and a &c
Thanksgiving the Vermont legislat
ought to return to MOntDelier def