The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-04-28
ADDITION
OF Many Million Dollars To
Real Estate Values
In Counties Of Ohio By State
Tax Commission
Shows Necessity For Reform
In Taxation Laws
An Eye Opener For Farmers
On Reciprocity
Showing Some Interesting
Figures 90 The Subject


that the state tax commission has add
ed nearly s3O0,OO0,0O0 to the quadren-
nial tax duplicates in SO counties of
Ohio should convince the people and
the general assembly that there is ur-
gent need for change in the method
of obtaining local assessors. The enor-
nous increase made by the state tax
commission was not based on valua-
ton by local assessors. The increase
was over figures fixed by local boards
of equalization, and when we consider
that these local boards boosted the
valuations of local assessors, the
work of the latter stands forth as be-
ing grossly negligent.
The commission found that, strik-
ing an average over the state, the real
property was placed on the duplicate,
after the local boards had concluded
their work, at between 65 and rs per
cent of it's true value. In some in
stances it was on at more than its
true value. In these instances the
commission made deductions. In a
number of instances increases of only
per cent were necessary and in 9TH
ers only 10 per cent. Some of the val
ues remain unchanged, the commits
sion having found that the local
boards had done their work properly.
In some instances, however, the prop
erty was on at a ridiculously low val
uation.
In one county the local board passed
a resolution and spread it on it's min
utes, that "sixty per cent of. the sell
ing value will be taken as the true
value in money" Naturally this made
the work of the commission easy IN
that county, as 1t was necessary only
to add a sufficient per cent to bring it
up to 100.
The work of the state tax commits
sion has not beer done in the inter-
est of any tax rate. No injustice has
been done any locality in order to
make the 1 per cent tax rate feasible.
Instead the mandate of the law for the
appraisement of all property at it's
true value in money was observed.
When the work of the state commits
sion is better understood, it will be
generally praised for there can be no
injustice done If everyone pays tax
levy made on property appraised at
it's true value in money. Complaints
were justified under the old system
when one property was taxed at 60
per cent of its value and another 0
per cent.
The big additions to the duplicates
made by the tax commission shows
the need of doing away with the pres
ent system of electing local assessors
The appraisement. of personal proper
ty is being made this year with q
corps of incompetent assessors, foi
the reason the general assembly failed
to pass the Edwards bill providing fol
the appointment of deputy county tax
commissioners in time for them tc
make the appraisement. The Edwards
bill should be enacted during this ses
sion of the general assembly.
There Is one thing above all Others
that the people expect from this gen
eral assembly, and that is the enact
ment of bill placing definite maxi
mum limit on the tax rate. he maxi
mum must be low enough to put al
end to extravagant expenditures b.
public officers, IL it is to met with thu
peoples approval.
The only way to establish equalit,
in taxation is to ordain low max
mum rate. There is no other way o
getting fair return. Outlawing
debt won't do it, nor will threatene
prosecution for perjury. A man feel
that unequal taxation is a sort OF rot
berry, and this he knows Is brough
about by scant and variable assess
ments, induced by high rate.
There is another influence at worl
When the taxpayers see public al
thority paying itself big salaries, an
having an easy time, they feel dee
distress when they fix up the basi
for a big tax bill When they see a
office created for man, they want
cut down valuation for $500 to $15