The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-06-01
ABOUT ASSESSMENTS

IN dedncting over $500. 900 from the
last wears assessment OF the Bristol
nine. while the property OF the local
residents Of the city was increased
double what it was a year ago and the
personal property several times what 1t
was last wear has caused more deter
mined opposition on present taxation
methods than has ever been apparent
ii this city before. Men are talking
in determined spirit and II is A. GER
tain as the night follows the day that
resident taxpayers are going to have
something to say about what the taxes
shall be upon their property,
There would have been no kick If the
valuations had remained at what they
were last year and other property was
raised mp so as to be proportionately
equal TO ii. But. when the mining
property is dropped and othor property
raised ii means "A practical Inning oil
local real estate owners for owning
property in the city,
The sum and substance OF the whole
matter is that there has been a conten-
ton between the Bristol and the Great
Western mining companies for many
years. The Bristol people claimed that
they should be assessed the same as the
Great Western while the Great Western
maintained that the Bristol is worth
twice what the Great Western IT, So
long as this contention didn t affect
local property owners there WAS no i'm
reference by those on the side lines.
However. the state tax commission
made an assessment and placed the
Bri stol at nearly twice what the Great
Western il assessed. Then means were
sought on the part of the Bristol to get
back TO It's proportional position ami a
special session Of the tax commission
was asked at WHICH representations
were made that the grade OF ore had
changed in the past year which, COM
ing as il did with the slump in ore
values. depressed the valuation OF the
I1llNAOl anu lilN AIA NOAlliilin0tth NAAhASA
reduction of sos, 600 Not content
with that reduction, the city board OF
review Topped of another 500, 600 be-
cause of ore mined from the property
during the past year, reducing the valu-
alton OF the Bristol mine from that NJ
which IL was fixed by the tax commits
SION. 1856. 900, to $3.50, 00Q
No kick would have been accustomed
nab the board Of review been content
TO leave the local property in proportion
but at the same time that the Bristol
and Great Western extension were re-
dnoed 60 the amount Of $3.50 GOO, local
residence and business property has
been increased on an average to double
what il was last year The rate last
year, with the high mining valuations
was triiie over per cent. With the
local property doubled in value and the
mining property cut fully the amount
ot the increase in local values we will
have tax rate of at least as high as
last year / not higher. A tax rate as
high as last year means that property
owners will pay twice the taxes that
they did last year or about what was
paid before the tax commission came
to this country az all
But. that is not all The tax com
mission threatens to come here and re-
aesess the local property. It's cinch
that the increase viii not be on the
mines as they have been fixed IL
means. then. that local property owners
are going 10 I've made the goat and that
we will all he paying more taxes than
we were before we were visited 10y the
tax comm ission M all and all because
o. the doctrine that as n mine ships ore
Oh property value decreases Did IL
occur 90 our board Of review that AS
ore goes opt Of our mines local property
decreases la value in y like proportion
What value would the business and
resident property have today II these
mines were exhaustcdl Would il re-
tam its value2 II it did we would be
content to pay taxes on a stable value.
The fact is otherwise When the
mining business Tell of was IT only the
mines that suffered Didn't local pro.
perty suffer as well1 When building
is vacated by tenant does the proper.
~ owner get reduction in his assess.
ment because of lessening in earn
ingsY When merchants business de.
creases does the assessment on his stock
decreased O. no. He pays on the
goods on his shelf.
This taxation question is one that IL
very near 20 every property owner.
The movement TO form local associa
ton is not revolution but simple
business movement by which the loca
taxpayers may protect their interests,
MINING commands are renresented by