The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-20
C|TY'S PROPERTY
TAXED BY STATE
Public Institutions Producing
Income Assessed to Value
OF $40, 100000.
HOSPITALS ALSO HARD HIT
Auditors Ruling VIII BE Tested
Big Increase in Richmond
Realty Values.

More than slo.oOo.coo OF the prop
clty of the city OF Richmond Will this
year FOR the nrst time. pay taxes to
the state of Virginia. That is. unless
the assessment is dcfeated in the
: courts Arrangements :or d legal test
are now being made.
This comes about under a ruling OF
State Auditor {. Lee Moore. fortified
! 10y an opinion from Attorney General
Samuel W. Williams. which CONSTITUTES
the law SO to permit the State to
assess and tax the property OF NUM-
/ cipal corporations which * used for
! purposes OF profit For instance, the
/ Richmond city Hall Is not taxed. but.
We're the city TO rent out one of it's
Office rooms to Il citizen, the entire
! llildins would then. under the ruling,
/ become taxable.
VIII Cost city $4,000 the Ycnr.
| So 1t is that the valuation placed
upon the city markets. the CITY Audi
/ tCrium, the water system. the gas plant
and the public sewerage OF the city OF
Richmond. all OF which produce in
come. appears listed for taxation on
/ the land books which viil be nled th!s
morning IN the Office of the Auditor
OF Public Accounts The total
eessed value OF city property is &c.,
SO. coo on which the ci;y VIII have to
pay the state. unless it can BE- sue
cessful In the courts. the sum O: $780,
64e.5o
In addition. tho new books contain
property owned by educational and
phiianthroplc corporati51s such as the
Retreat for the Sick. tho University
College or Medicine. McGnl Catholic
Union, Memorial Hospital and the
Young Mems Christian Association.
These have never before paid taxes.
but. under the same ruling Of tho
Auditor. they must DE assessed FOR
income from their porperty. a stint
lui test Will be made II. the case Of
these institutions. Should the state
win. these properties wiu also be tax
ed by tho city.
big New Building Value
The real estate book OF Richmond
Tor 1912. which VIII be complete to-
day. show a total assessed valuation
OIL property, including land and build
ings but not personal property OF
Sa- .53e3il. This is an apparent in
crease OF sl3.237.5eo over 1911. but
most of this comes from the addition
Of city property and that OF the iusti-
,rtions referred to. The actual net
increase, which represents the assessed
value Of new buildings erected during
the year is sl,I52,s4O. There is no
change in the assessment OF land, as
that is made once in nve years.
Should the state collect tho tax IN
the entire amount. including that part
which viii be contested, il Will get
Si6.329si moro money from the people
OF Richmond than il did in 1911. when
the total State tax on realty from this
city was S277.55s a. against s323.Sss5S
80 IA. at Il
OF the Ss2.53a3+l OF real property
ss9.ll4.52t IS owned by white people
and s9s2i,si7 by colorcd people
WANTS Hospitals 10 Pay.
The Retreat Tor The Sick is assessed
1.-TWO pieces OF land) AT sl5.1OO. and
Will pay tax OF si7S5. The Univer.
sity College OF Medicine. assessed be-
cause OF its hospital. Is valued At SSH
500. and Will be asked 10 pay $1,000.
The state wants Ss5.75 from the clue-
house OF the McGiu Catholic Union. on
mortal Hospital Gwo pieces there IS
asked taxes On s53.12o. amounting to
SlS5e2 The Young Mems Christian
Association is the hardest hit. for IT
is assessed on a value OF sl77,ooo. on
which the tax viii be s6l9.5o Il is
understood that test case w.n be
made to ascertain the courts view of the
law.
Next year the Eiks Home Will be
taxed II the ruling stands. since 1t is
regarded as in the light of club
/ house. like tho Westmorcland and
/ Commonwealth Clubs. which are taxed.
| 1t turns out that the city property
now assessed for state taxation for the
( first time was valued by the land asses
/ sors in 1910. although 1t was not ex-
pected that It would. be called on for
taxes.
The water system Is valued complete
at 100000. the gas system complete
at s350o.000. and the city's sewerage
at s2250. 600. The complete figures
follow. as compiled by Commissioner Of
the Revenue H. z. Tresnon:
Assessed State
City Property Value Tax.