Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-28
REPORT ON STATE TAXES.
Tax Commission After Working
Eighteen Months Make Import
ant Recommendations.

Richmond, Va, Dec. 2S.-DeclarlnG
that substantial reduction in the tax
rate will be possible by proper equal
ization, and presenting recommenda-
tions which are aimed to accomplish
this equalization, the State Tax Com
mission today gave out the report upon
the preparation of which it has been
engaged for eighteen months.
With the cheering assurance that
only part OF the tax code needs re-
vision, the commission declares that
the modification OF relatively few
laws, in some essential respects, will
give Virginia an equitable system OF
taxation, and will speedily reduce the
general tax burden by properly distrib-
uting it.
Careful investigation, declares the
commission, at the outset OF its report
shows that the greatest defect OF the
states financial system is the absence
of any method OF supervising the as
sessment OF real and personal property.
II the assessors OF one county choose
to 80 assess lands and personal property
as to eyade their proper share OF the
public burden the commission shows
that there is absolutely no method OF
preventing this, even though another
county or city may be paying four
times as heavy taxes. To correct this
evil and to equalize the taxes Of all the
people is in the judgment OF the com.
mission the most important work OF
tax reform.
After reviewing the various systems
OF equalization in use in other states.
the commission concludes that perm
anent tax commission is necessary to
euualize assessments. Accordingly, it
proposes that such q commission be
created. which shall have general SUI.
peryision OF the work Of assessment,
shall fix county and city average for
the assessment OF property. shall re.
move commissioners Of the revenue
for failure to discharge their duties,
and shall formulate general rules and
regulations for the uniform assessment
OF property.
Land assessments. declares the COM
mission, should be based on actual
sales values; Improvements should
be assessed in a like ma through
out the state, ar ;aal prop.
erty should be Y 5c, ~ its fair
uniform value cn$t'un rec
ommends 49,, he s.9as q these
averar44 and u osea-:' go sAs1 meth;
oas d, ass5ss:r3a4 F. 1851 ~ ;s' tax
= s~- i; ''' ?. rs S.e
-l%E2's efS *4oEe', 80 ",.. "
a1-s, 2f1'so':" ,A'''2' j., ~
- at ave g. y t'''',..'
t''r 's NJ !sz,'5. ,''.','s',''2 ~, 49,
- &S'a y ''s.1 o'S
e1'i!'> 1'''.aS .-.. .r@ -, ,,,-s. H. -
lhssSo ~" " Z. s
m,a' 7...s ''...'a ~,
slot ,S,'' 80
10 Q III " - ~.
lole '' go - = MI.
uelce :; " 80 ,l. I'M
anu u M, ~, -.
average V',,:s.la '~%', - :, -.
course 70 ...o -. -. - -,
declares u, III '->1,'' -
prosec' ing Il - - ' ae
ssate nas's - .on,noands
edu'tao'e assess, .ss .ha panen,'o
tnat no conh,''s, sn' n.s:uas
acelns as ianu a. SUI -, 20 20, n n''an
80 fesuin . q i"nu ,""da 5000 49, d. 49,
aee ,a a a, n. =. '""a' 'o"0' '""" '""'
h1Tu Wy ';e o sIa ~ .ooo,,n,;sh tbesa 20
,1.s . =. .ho , ~ nosl;hIa no.t ond
s,is a. 'n ;tsolt osoin.t tho crs.t;ou
W ma.aSass 1 uau nf;cas the commits.
s;on racon,mand0 that thu nronosad
oo Un he comnosed ~ the GOV.
o t,,. n S ~ tho Sensts
a. snoaLo, =, .ha House =, palegates
Wv. wy spoc ; ~ ~. ~ onsnona.;on co.,,
1no zion a 49, y. VIZ =. a. foonoo
In'sslon, .Io tN o. T.,,oa ond Sonots
. .n a..N u W " ~ amd;tor onS
W.. LIZ a .o sI an -, thasa oft;caro
Sno easu'o. anS .ha.s =
are " sei'e "''nouI pss, oornao.oS
20 DC OUT one pS.u oiiie'a' nnes:ou