Evening journal., 1913-01-13
MAYOR FOR
ASSESSMENT
LAW CHANGES
Thinks City Would Profit
Greatly by Adopting the
New York Plan
WILL RECOMMEND
CHANGE TO COUNCIL

Mayor H. W. Howell who with
William =. Bancroft and George W
Sparks went to New York on Friday
TO confer with Lawson w Purdy, the
assessment expert relative to The
system Of taxation IN vogue IN that
city, and returned on Saturday after
noon, were impressed with the plan.
Mayor Howell will urge City Coun-
Gil to take up tho matter of re-adiust-
sng the assessment here, following
closely the system IN effect In New
York. This plan Is laid on the unit
basis-that is the assessment OF the
land according to its front foot value,
allowing 25 per cent increase for cor
ner property, and then assessment oil
buildings according to their actual
value. The Mayor believes that the
Council has the necessary power to
make such changes though It would
take year TO carry out the plant u
a statement issued by him the Mayor
said:
What we desire is a readjustment
OF all property on an equitable basis
All property should be gone over. The
assessments on some properties are
TOO high and on others are not high
enough. Where changes are neces-
eary on either land or land and
buildings these could then be read
ily determined
"rho readjustment OF the ASSESS
ment would be by the unit system.
As for instance, from Fifth to Sixth
lon Market street the value of the
land would be established at so much
a front foot with 25 per cent. increase
for corner property and then every
front foot of land in that block would
be taken on the same amount OF
value. There would be changes In
both land and building values but
more so on buildings, as these deter
iorate every year. Such changes OF
value would necessitate frequent re-
adjustments of values.
81 claim that the irregularity OF the
assessment in this city is wrong
frequently find instances where prop
erty In Wilmington of equal valuation
varies in assessment to the amount OF
hundreds of dollars in small proper
ties and thousands of dollars in
larger ones.
"If we are to have a readiustment
OF the system It will be necessary for
this work to be done by men who are
competent to judge Of the real worth
of the property to be assessed.
1T will take at least a year to pre-
pare maps. books. etc, but in six
months time ] believe that Council
could revise a part of the assessment
More revenue has TO be raised tc
conduct the affairs of this city and
consider that by bringing up the as
sessment on properties which are
now assessed at too low a figure, ac'
cording to their actual value, this
would be the necessary way to raise
n Then it would not be necessary
10 raise the tax rate.
"It would be just as essential q
duty for the assessors to lower the
assessment on properties which are
now placed at too high a figure
There are so many more properties
the valuation of which is placed toe
low than those which are placed toe
high, however, that ! have no doubt
about the new assessment plan beine
a source OF much additional revenue
4. 70 the city.
When the system is once adopted
and valuations properly established
citizens could not have appeals from
assessments granted without show
Ing real cause for reduction such as
the proof of sale. inability TO sell
recorded property values. etc
while it may be necessary for
Council to 60 to the legislature foi
money with which to nut the new
system into effect. 7 believe thai
Council itself Is granted enough
never according TO the existing laws
70 bring about the desired change In
the assessment system"