Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1910-04-15
PULLMAN's HEAVY TAXES.
Highest Taxes i'm History of Pullman
Causing Complaints from the
Taxpayers.

Ira N. Nye, field deputy assessor
for Pullman, is having hard work in
making hte assessment this year, for
the people, as a rule, are up in arms
against the high taxes which they
have been compelled to pay. Mr.. Nye,
who is noted for his frankness, states
positively that he believes taxes will
be higher next year, and that does
not have tendency to make the tax
payer any happier. The tax levy for
b Pullman is 81 mills, and that's 60
ing some" to use the language of the
classics. The levy is divided as fol-
lows; City levey, 25 mills school
district, II mills; county and state
levy 10 mills. The assessed valua-
ton in the city limits is $663,SO9,
which, at 25 mills, the city levy, pro-
duced the sum of $16,595.22, city
purposes on the levy made last year,
the taxes for which are just now be-
ing paid. The county and state levy,
of 10 mills on this assessment, pro-
duces $12, 622.37, which is the
amount Pullman property owners
will pay for keeping up the county
and state government. The valuation
of the school district is placed at
$3.50, 060, which, at II mills, pro-
duced $14,111.O2, for school pur.
! poses The school district includes
more territory than the city. The to-
tai amount paid by Pullman citizens
for keeping up the schools, city,
county and state, upon the assess
ment of 1909, reaches the enormous
sum of $43,
The report just issued by County
Auditor Dundan shows some inter
esting facts in connection with taxa
| ton in Whitman county. 1t has been
| claimed that the absence of saloons
is responsible for the high taxation
in Pullman, but the fact that Uni on
town, which is less than one-fourth
Der of saloons, has a city tax of 80
mills, which is five mills higher than
Pullmans city levy, does not bear
out this statement The fact that st.
John, a dry town." has only five
mills city levy, the lowest in the
county, would tend to show that the
absence of saloons does not, of neces-
sity, increase taxation. Oakesdale
| dry" and Cotton, wet" are the
next lowest, each having levy of but
nine mills for city purposes. Farm
ington, dry" and Colfax, wet, -
are next in high levy to Pullman,
each having levy of 20 mills. Gar
field dry" and Palouse, wet" are
next, in high levy, with II mills,
each. Teoka and Rosalia, both of
which were wet" last year, have
leyies of IA and 10 mills, respec-
lively.
! The amount of taxes to be paid
| by Whitman county property own
ers, as shown by the auditors report
upon the assessment of 1909, totals
1919, 661.99, divided as follows;
State tax, $218,921.13; county tax
$253, 411.35; road taxes, $500 o.05;
school taxes, $2OS,44O.1S; munich
pal taxes, $6S,S74.28.
Millions in Live Stock.
The auditors report on livestock
shows that Whitman county is wei
supplied in this respect, having 90,
Sol head of horses and mules, valu
ed at $1,240,505; %, $50 head OF
cattle, valued at $322,260; pass
head of sheep, valued at $57,710'
14,244 head of hogs, valued at ST.,
925. Only SO autom obiles were own
ed in Whitman county on March 1
1909, and they were valued by the
assessor at $12,795, an average OF
$355.41. 1t is thought that the as
sessment this year will show at least
100 automobiles owned within the
borders of Whitman county.
The total assessed value of Whit.
man county property for 1909 was
$32,4S9, 519, of which the railroads
were assessed at $5,627,496. The to.
tai value of property owned by the
county was placed at $448,448.S6,
and after deducting all of the indebt-
edness it had total resources of
1855, 592.37.
Transportation.