The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1912-01-20
Reproduced By Request
Taxation Talk
By Governor
0ddic
Special to the Record

every county III the stale peihS iop
resented.
At the opening session Governor Cd
die delivered an interesting address
on the matter of taxation. which was
as follows:
Taxation is the fundamental bust
mes proposition Of any form OF gov
ernment. To conduct civil govern
ment: TO maintain law and order and
to carry on cooperative institu-
lions for the general welfare requires
money, and that money is properly
raised only by taxation. II it is a
Just government, the burden OF tax
alton must be equally distributed. No
man should be compelled to pay more
than his proper share Of taxes and
no man should be permitted to pay
less These are axioms which no one
will dispute. Their application pre-
sents many complex difficulties.
| | believe that Nevada Is far behind
many other states in the solution
OF the problems of equitable taxa
ton. Yet l believe that there is no
other subject of such immediate i'm
portance to the people OF this state
as this.
| We have an adyalorem system of
taxation on all property in this state.
| The tax rate Is fixed by the legisla-
ture and applies uniformly to all
kinds of property, real, personal and
possessory. Any inequality in the
system of taxation, therefore, must
resolve itself to inequality in the ap-
praisement Of valuation upon differ
erty.
Sixty per cent of the cash value of
all the various kinds of property in
this state is popularity supposed to
be the uniform basis of valuation
for assessment purposes. 1t is a
matter of common knowledge that
While residence property in the towns
and cities is generally taxed up to
lhis basis, as well as the realty and
improvements of small property own
ers in many instances, very little
other property in the state is any,
where near so highly appraised. The
testimony OF the assessors at the
meeting Of this board held on Januar
10, 1910, showed a range of appraise
ments of from 35 to 60 per cent of
the cash value, and it is probable tina
the variation on close investigation
will be found to vary within wiedr ex
tremes than this, or to as low as %
per cent, at least on certain classes
OF property.
Effect on Taxpayer
1t Is interesting to note the eff.
feet on the taxpayer of such varia
lions in assessment valuations. MOI
everyone has given 1t due considera
ton, and few have worked 1t out
by the proper method of computation
Let us assume, for purposes of il
lustration, that 500 is required tC
be raised by taxation, and that the
real cash value Of the property
which must be assessed is $4,000
Let us further suppose that this $40,
600 worth of property may be elias
sified as follows
Residence property, actual casf
value, $1,000.
Farm property, actual cash value
$4,000.
Railroad property, actual cash val
ne. $4,000.
Industrial business property, act
ual cash value, $500.
Public utility property, actual casl
value, $1,000.
Stock range and live stock proper
ty, actual cash value, $500.
Total actual cash value, $4,000.
How II Would Work
Now If this $4,000 worth of prop
erty be assessed at it's full cash val
ue In each instance, tax rate OF
81 on each 500 valuation would pro
duce the 500 revenue required. II
the basis Of valuation be 60 per cent
of the cash value, rate of $1.66 2-s
on each 800 valuation will produce
that amount Of revenue. In each in
stance the amount OF taxes the own
ers of each class of property would
pay and which may be termed the
Just amount each c'ass should pay
would be as follows:
The residence property would pay
$40.
The farm property would pay $40.
The railroad property would pay
$40.
The industrial business property
would pay SIS.
The public utility property would
pay $40.
The stock range and live stock
property would pay SIS.
Total taxes paid 500.
How II Works Out Now
But let us suppose that instead OF
a uniform system Of valuation ap-
piled to EACH class of property. that
the basis of valuation In each var