The Washington times., 1911-09-25
YEARLY PROPERTY
ASSESSMENTS FOR
DISTRICT IS URGED
Assessor Richards Cites Dis
advantages of Triennial
System in His Report.

Declaring that under the present law
there is no appearance Of an unbiased
hearing to property holders who appeal
from assessments levied by the board
of assistant assessors, ". P Richards,
Assessor, in his annual report submitted
to the Commissioners today, recon-
mends an annual instead of a triennial
assessment of real estate in the Dis
trict.
The assessor renews his recommended
tions made in former reports that an
increase be made in the assessments of
the street railways. electric light COM
panieS and telephone companies.
The triennial assessment of 1912-1914
was completed January /, 1911, and
shows an increase over the triennial
assessment of 1909-1911 of about $780,
100000. Appeals from the assessments
January to the first Monday IN June
by the Board Of Review. the members
OF which also make up the Board Of
Assistant Assessors, which made the
original assessments.
This office made every effort to ac-
quaint the public with the time Of APP
peal. both through the newspapers and
by direct notice, says the report. 1T
Is probable that more newspaper notice
was given concerning the new assess
ment than at any previous period. New
ertheless, II seems certain that many
persons did not understand the import
ahCe o: the fact that after the time OF
appeal no changes can be made for
three years. About 1.70) appeals were
received, about double the number made
during previous years. but representa-
tive Of only a little more than / per
cent of the real estate taxed in the Dis
trict.
1.-The result will be that when the first
tax bills of the new triennial assess
ment are given out next May many
persons will feel for the first time the
necessity Of making t an appeal 3f It then
a condition which always will apply to
any assessment made at the end Of the
series of years, and the real remedy
can be found in a yearly assessment"
Would Divide City.
The plan suggested by Assessor Rich
ards is. first, to have the city divided
into three or more sections, with two
assistant assessors for each section
Second, to have a board of review,
consisting of .he assessor and two
deputy assessors, the first deputy to
have supervision of real estate assess
ments and the second deputy to have
charge of personal assessments.
Third, the board of review shall have
no part in the initial assessment ex-
Cept 10 furnish the assistant assessors
with all the data relative to sales,
transfers. building operations, and sub
divisions. and to supervise the work.
Fourth, that the assessments shall
be made each year for the entire Dis
trict. and that personal notice shall be
given OF every change in assessment
but that no requirement shall be made
directing the assistant assessors to view
every piece of property within that
mart of the District over which they
have charge.
Fifth. that there shall be a complete |
and accurate data as to prices paid on
all real estate, and that these records
shall be under the direction and care
OF the assessor and two deputy asses |
sors.
Yearly System Best.
"a triennial assessment. or an assess
ment over anv series Of years, Is very
we'll applicable to county or State as
sessments where values change but lit
tie from year to year" says the report
In all the large cities, however, 1t has
been found to be better administration