Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-10-21

Pursuing its Investigations further
in an effort to ascertain true condi-
tions in Polk County under dry
rule; not seeking to influence any
voters opinion or judgment by its owr
argument, but simply presenting him
the facts as ascertained from the city
and county records, which are at all
times open to examination by any per-
son, the Observer comes now to the
subject of city taxes and to the an
swer of the question, Are taxes high
er under "dry" rule than they were
under wet rule, or are they lower?
Polk County was voted dry in the
Summer of 190S-twenty-seVe en-
months ago. The first tax levy under
"dry" rule was made in December of
that year. For the purposes of compar-
ison, it would seem fair to consider the
last two wet years in the city, and the
last two dry years. Examining the rec
ords, we find that the assessed valua-
tlon of property and the levy in mills
for these four years are as follows:
Wet Years.
19O6-assessed valuation, S700,570;
levy, Al mills; revenue from taxation,
s2S72.
19O7--assessed valuation. $724,71O;
levy. 6.3 mills; revenue from taxation,
S4565.
Dry Years.
10OS--assessed valuation, $727 ,92O;
levy, S.3 mills; revenue from taxation,
$0Ol1.
19O9-assessed valuation, $1,O35,-
900; levy. s.s mills; revenue from tax
alton, $91Os.
The real amount of revenue raised
by taxation in this last year was $10,-
$50, but this latter amount includes
the water tax. As the law provides
that enough water tax must be levied
each year TO pay interest charges on
the bonds and to retire one-twentieth
of the principal, IL win be seen that
the water tax is a fixed expense. and
for this reason It has not been inciud-
ed in the table OF figures given above.
While property-owners of Dallas paid
taxes to the amount OF S1O.s5O this
last year, the amount raised for gem
eral city purposes was only ss1Os.
It was hoped by the council when
this last enormously high levy was
made-a levy unequalled In the his
tory OF Dallas-that the revenue de-
rived therefrom would run the city
through 20 the next tax collecting
time. But II appears that already the
officers find the treasury empty
with no more taxes to come in until
next April or May. Five months OF a
busted" town. And Indebtedness pill
ing up at the rate OF several hundred
dollars a MONTH Truly. the prospect Is
not pleasing.
II would not be fair to say that all
OF this extra taxation has been caused
by the loss OF the saloon license. other
cities IN oregon. whether wet or dry,
have higher tax levies than they had
few years ago. for the reason that
they are making improvements that
cost money. But II rests with the tax
payers OF Dallas 20 say whether Dallas
has improved fast enough 20 justify a
levy nearly four times as high as II
was four years ago Has the city grown
that fast7
One thing IL certain: The revenue
Of the city il 1900 less each year
than II was four years ago. and this
amount has TO be made MP BY taxa
ton. A city has only three WHY'S Of
raising money-by taxation. By license.
and BY fnes Here IN Dallas. We nnd
that the city has lost t2foo q year On
license. and that TIE amount received 4
each year from fines is merely nomi-
nal Therefore. Il becomes Absolutely /
Necessary % make I'D this deficiency 4
b. Increasing taxation- Argue a. we
may. We cannot set around this fact