The Detroit times., 1912-12-14

ADDED TO STATE
VALUATIONS
Total Increase in Two Years in
Assessments Is $173,-
004,060
BOARD COMPLAINS OF
LACK OF FACILITIES
Consolidation of Assessors and
Tax Commissioners Is
Advised

LANSING, Mich, Dec. 14.-(Spe-
ciAl)-Since Jan. l, 1911, the state tax
commission has added $l73,0O4,O6O
worth OF property TO the tax rolls OF
Michigan, according TO the biennlai
report of that board filed with Gov.
Osborn, today. Owing to the fact that
the work OF reappraising the property
In the various counties did not begin
until late in 1911, only $94,s11,94S was
added TO the tax rolls that year II wv
ever, the counties that have been Wis
tied this year, which include Dickin-
son. Genesee, Gogebic. Ingham, lion
and Kalamazoo, has resulted in the
assessed valuation OF the state being
increased sos, 092,l
In their report the commissioners
say that above all things, politics
should be kept out OF the state tax
commission. 1T has been the policy
OF the present commission to make ell
fciency only the basis upon which an
employe is to be retained or al
vanced," IS one OF the reasons OF the
commissioners advanced for the ef'
ficiency OF the department
The tax commission recommends
that the scope OF operations be WIDEN
ed and In this connection the board
says: I'VE have been impressed with
the lack OF facilities and failure to
value big business operations, such
as mercantile and manufacturing es
Establishments, in their respective as
sessing districts. This difficulty Is
not confined to any one district, but
seems general throughout the state.
To overcome this the board recon
mends that every corporation shall
make full and complete sworn state
ment in writing TO the state tax com
missioners not later than the second
Monday In April OF each year, giving
in detail q description, quantity and
value OF all property owned by IL sab
Ject TO taxation in this state. and the
location thereof; and wherever the
board shall deem it advisable OF ex-
lpedient, IL may require similar state
ment from any person, firm or corpor.
alton owning property subject to tax
alton In this state"
Further, the board says: There IL
a class OF property extending through
or situated in more than one assessing
district, for example, interurban lines,
electric power companies, etc, now
subject TO assessment by more EEn
one local assessor and difficult TO as
sess uniformly or to determine just
what portion of the value OF the en-
tire property should be assessed in
Gny particular district This board
recommends that all such property be
assessed by the state board OF asses
sors and the tax go into the general
fund OF the state. or that the tax com.
mission assess alch property as an
entirety and then equitably apportion
the amount among the several asses
sing districts in which II Is located.
and certify the value so determined
;or each district to the local assessing
CiIicer TO be placed ON the assessment
roll as the value OF that part OF such
property In that assessing district
1t Is also the idea OF the board that
the state geological survey should ne
utilized in securing the valuation OF
mineral lands, and that q competent
man should be secured TO assist in
gathering the data.
| In the interest OF economy the
board advises the consolidation OF
the state board OF assessors and the
board of state tax commissioners into
one board.
County drain taxes are now spread
upon the tax roll and wholly paid for
In one year. The board claims thai
the result OF this IL an increased cost
for doing the work and burden upoIl
the taxpayer that could be lessened
II authority was given for the Issue OF
short time bonds and the payment
spread over a three or fve-year
period.
The game warden's department is
largely supported by moneys obtained
from licensing deer hunters and non
resident hunters and the FISH compis-