The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1912-09-26

VIII DC DOTH III NINA III Cplllpdi ~ \
these values that the special session
Of the legislature made such differ.
encc IN the exemption laws as to de-
crease the value this year OF property
AT least Sl0.OO0O0O The special scs-
sion OF the legislature, although
through my earnest efforts retaining
the principle OF full cash value, took
only 40 per cent OF that full cash value
for taxation purposes. Under this un-
wise provision OF the law the value OF
the property OF the state this year for
taxation purposes is $l67, 36S,3OZOZ.
In 1911 the tax rate for the state
purposes was three mills. For 1912 we
have levied for the general fund four
and thrcc-tcnfhs mills. for the general
interest and sinking fund, one ais
swo-tcnths mills. making the total for
the state levy OF six mills as against
onc-haIf OF that amount IN 1911. We
raised this year on the public building
fund $50 ,684 IS: for the general in
fsrcst and sinking fund $20O,84 90.
The amount that we need in the gen
cral fund IS about $l2,00000, less than
we are raising but we thought it best
70 have a small surplus TO meet GER
rain contingencies that might arise.
THE state is to be congratulated
that only double the rate Of last year
has been adopted for this year and
still sufficient money will be provided
TO meet all the expenses of the state
We naturally would have expected, the
30 per cent rule having been adopted
by the legislature, that the rate would
be two and onc-half times as great
this year as it was in 1911, instead OF
merely doubling the rate.
1T is interesting in this compari-
son to note the difference in the tax
rates Of previous years compared with
the past two years In 1910 although
the full cash value for taxation pur-
poses was provided by the statutes, we
lad a tax rate Of seven and eleven
hundredths mills. After the appor.
tioninent bill had been cut down by
me in large amount it still showed
S325-0D0 greater expenses to the state
in the biennial period of loll-l2 that
that Of l909-l0, besides there was an
additional bonded Indebtedness pro-
vidcd for by the eleventh session Of
the legislature which compelled the
payment Of about $4,000 per year adj
ditional interest for the past two years
To put il in a different way, although
there has been $425000 more money
needed for state purposes in loll-12
than in lo0o-l0, still we find the tax
rate for such purposes only three mills
in 1912 under the frty per cent valua-
ton for taxation purposes as against
seven and eleven hundrcths mills in
1910 This is a showing that speaks
well for the state and for the admin
stration of our revenue matters in the
state
"Our experts, Messrs. Robertson.
ourtll and Ramstedt have done goo,
ervice and have assisted us very ma
crially in our labors. My idea whei
hey were FIRST employed was that the,
hould work together on all matterl
nd give us their united conclusions
| other mmbers Of the board though
his was impracticable on account
rot enough time intervening. w
rave found that they disagreed some
what in the regard to values on differ
mt kinds Of property. and while W,
,ould equalize from the statements
# each as to the county he examined
worked a little confusion when
anne to comparing the results of tn
abors of each with that of the Others
The further | have gone into thi
ucstion of taxation the better an
satisfied that my idea in regard to {;
on-partisan tax commission with fl,
power to act appointed for Ions
term and not responsible to the ap
pointing power, is the proper solutio.
or all tax problems. Such commits
sion will secure proper solution uni
formally throughout the state on diff
icrent classes Of property and it vii
he their business to ascertain value.
and to find out property that is not OF
the ASSESSMENT roll and see that it i
placed there. A score of other thing.
,hat would come within their purviev
md would increase the probabilities o.
correct assessment being reached
'ould be easily mentioned.
we have placed upon the assess
nent roll this year a good deal of pro
perty that never before reached it.
stimate that there is in Idaho at tn
present time in the neighborhood o
Sloo0o0,000 Of property that has neve
paid a dollar of taxes 1t will take
GOOD long while to reach all of it but
faN commission can pay all expense
S Ten times over each year for man
wears to come by putting new pre-
! pcrty on the roll
"rhc worst feature Of our preser
n system and the one that has boil
. cred this board most is the absolui
q INJUSTICE done by assessors and count
! commissioners in some OF the count,
|, For instance. we find nat rates G
certain kinds OF property in certai
G places IN Boise county, for instanc
~ timber lands were assessed At g
!, ner acre when we know that the val,
Il timber lands in that county vari'
IS rom 81 per acre to $40. The resu
e has been in that county that some
n the taNpayers have paid an excess al
+ 'thers not sufficient This is beyo,
a.. the reach OF the state land board