Morris tribune., 1912-08-02
TAXATION IN MINNESOTA.
State Equalization of Personal
Property Assessment.
TWENTY SEVENTH ARTICLE.


The percentage of the personal
property assessment to the total as
sessment of the state has varied but
slightly in twenty years. In 1890
it was 1871 per cent, in 1900. 1913
cent. and in 1910, 17.2 per cent Of
the total assessment.
The difference in the actual value
of the two classes of property. real
and personal. is probably very much
less than the difference in the as
sessed value. 1t is difficult, if not
impossible under existing laws, to
reach all forms of personal property
for purposes of taxation. This is
especially true of so-called intangible
personal property. No state has yet
succeeded in doing it, so that Min
nesota is not alone in its failure in
this respect.
The assessed value of the taxable
property of the state more than dou-
bled in the ten years between 1900
and 1910, the exact increase being
1O3 per cent. The average annual in
crease was CT per cent. The as
sessed value of land, however, in
creased more rapidly than personal
property, the former showing rs
per cent, and the latter 5.4 per cent
of an average annual increase during
this period.
State equalization of personal pro-
perty is much more complex than
that Of real estate. The sales method
atft rds reasonably accurate measure
of realty values. but the valuation of
personal property is largely matter
of good judgment, and an intelligent
dissemination of changing business
conditions, supplemented by the use
of comparative tables, the grouping
of districts of the same general char
acter and wealth. and the use of the
data furnished from time to time by
the census department of the bureau
of commerce and labor.
To illustrate the use of the data
furnished by the census department,
the number and value of the domestic
animals in each county of the state
in 1910 was given in a bulletin issued
early in 1911. The total value of
such animals in the state was fixed
at $156, III, 1856. The assessed value
of domestic animals in the state in
that year was $40. .592. .951. Based
on the census valuation the average
assessed value in 1910 of domestic
animals was 25.9 per cent OF true
value. Applying the census valuation
to the different classes of domestic
animals, we find that horses were as
sessed on an average basis of 24.6
per cent; cattle 32.6 per cent; sheep
21.1 per cent and swine at 1915 per
cent of census value.
Industrial and commercial statistics
are also complied from government
reports. and are compared with the
assessors returns of these classes OF
property. Financial reports and in-
surance carried are also factors in
equalization. :.
The valuations fixed by the census
department are not accepted by the
tax commission as absolutely reliable,
but are used in conjunction with 9TH
err data to determine approximate
values in different counties.
In equalizing personal property as.
sessments comparative tables are pre-
pared showing the assessed value of
classes of personal property in each
county for period of years, and the
per cent of increase or decrease for
the current year. Counties and dis
tricts of the same general character
and wealth are grouped and compared
by classes and totals.
When county shows any consider
able decrease in the assessed value of
personal property compared with the
preceding assessment, or for a period
of years, special investigation is
undertaken to determine the cause of
the decrease. If no cause can be