The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-04-28
[By Goo. l.. SchroYer.I

nearly one-seventh Of the land is yet
uncleared, section 20 having largest
acreage In timber, 100 acres section l6,
second, with ia acres uncleared, sec
tion /, having the least uncleared land,
SO acres.
o. valuatiou-of lands and build
ings-
Total valuation on nland.--......-. 81 3s7, ,37s 90
Total deduction for roads and
| dltches---. ------ -.----- ----.--- A,2lO on
Total value on houses ...-..-.--.- ll0,85s on
/ Total value on barns.--.-----..---. l0l, ,065 90
| Total value on other buildings 36,l77 90
/ Grand total less deduction for
roads and ditches-----.----------sl5 II 59l, ,89S 90
| The state board of tax equalization
added to this amount l6 2-3 per cent.
making real estate total 1856, ,63I .OO.
In recent announcement giving the
rate of increase by the state board of
equalizers Ii was shown that it would
be $4,000 per acre for Washington town
ship. Such would be the case If the
township was full and nothing was de-
Quoted for roads and bitches, but we
| find that less such deduction 1t makes
the value for taxation purposes SS3. go
per acre.
In regard to valuation, including all
| buAAhAhkeI 9NNAAOh . hiokH win n
total of S5s, 100000 This includes the
raise made by state board. Section II
| is at the bottom of the list with S45, ,54I.
Total valuation in north precinct COM
posed of Is sections, S94O, ,2S6. 90; south
precinct, S916, ,345.O0.
Tax valuation of the several villages
as follows;
Wabash, total SIS S54 90
Macedon, total. al.-----.-----....--....-- G744 90
Erastus, total -----.-----. 5Oll 90
Per cent of property oftownship that
is mortgaged, per cent, which is in
deed low mark. This however does
not represent the full amount of in
debtedness, as many have debts not
secured by mortgage.
Comparison of appraisements-
For year 1910 sI s56,e9l 90. Av. per acre. $500
| For year 1900 478,SS5 90. Av. per acre, 2l.4
For year 1890 3S7,52O 90. Av. per acre, 1920
Thus land values are nearly four
times as much as in 1900, and five and
one-half times what they were in 1890.
Certainly quite a raise is being made
in tax valuation compared with former
values.
The law requiring the listing of pro-
perty at full value was the same for
the three appraisements, but it seems
the determination TO do so has but re-
Gently gained strength.
The matter of increased valuation is
not Objectionable if the same treat
ment is given other property interests
and corporations and companies having
and enjoying public privileges and
franchises.
Not long ago a member of the state
tax com mmission resigned and refused
to serve because the other members of
the board were inclined to be lenient
with railroads, telephone and telegraph
companies, ETC., and not assess them at
full value. The injustice of the tax
valuation lies in the fact that the pow
erful corporations and companies en-
ploy and use men to lobby to their in
terests in keeping down their tax valu-
alton and thus escape the burden of
maintaining the public welfare, and
just so far as they can do so and in
such degree they increase the tax for
those whose property is listed at full
value.
The public needs are what makes the
rate of taxation. Locally we have
three boards that levy taxes each year,
viz: Township trustees, for the town
ship administration; township school
board, for the maintenance of its sys-
tenn of education, and the county COM
missioners, for the county officials,
bridges, repair of roads, infirmary and
other expenses.
Each of the three boards are indepen-
dent of each other and make levies to
provide for the care of the business that
comes under their care and adminlstra-
tion. Thus if a certain sum is needed,
such amount must be raised regardless
of whether the tax valuation be
high or low. 1t but changes the rate
of levy per hundred dollars.
With the highest valuation ever
made in the township we can expect
that the rate per hundred will be much
less than formerly, although the same
amount of money may be required to
provide for the various public interests
and improvements.
BY way of illustration, the various
levies of the several boards for last
year was, for township two and one
half mills; schools, nine mills; county,
twelve and two-third mills. Should
the same amount of money be sufficient
for the coming year we can expect
levy at rates something like the fol-
lowing, on the new tax valuations.
THE reader Will understand why it is
not accurately given because of the
spring assessors returns not being
known for this year.
Approximately $l7,000.00 we're paid
in taxes this year by property holders
in Washington township. TO provide
like sum will call for a levy of
nine and three tenths mills on the new
appraisements, divided as follows:
Township, one mill; schools, three and
two-tenths mills; county and state,
five and. one tenth mills.
Thus 1t can be seen there is no harm
with the high appraisement providing
the boards that levy taxes are careful.
A safeguard has been given in that the
new law limits the total levy for all
purposes, by the different boards com-'
bined to not exceed fifteen mills. Yet
if such limit was used or taken advan-
tage of, with the present valuation our
taxes would be practically 65 per cent
higher than last year.
The bill now pending In the legisla-
ture to limit the levy to not exceed ten
mills is certainly in the interest Of the