Bisbee daily review., 1913-08-01
TAXPAYERS AND
 TAxPAYgRs' ASSOCIATION.


 Reports continue to come from Phoenix saying that the state tax rate will be not less than 60 cents on each one hundred dollars assessed valuation The state tax rate was 90 cents last year. Last year the total assessed value in Arizona amounted to slz0,Oo0.O0O. 1t is estimated that the total this year will not be be- low ss5O, ,OoO,0oo. If the state tax rate is put at 60 cents this year it will be one-third less than what it was last year notwithstanding the increase in taxable property will be more than two and bali times. Were 1t not for Increases in expenses of carrying on the state government over that of last year the tax rate this year would not be more than 25 cents on the hundred. Last year the county tax rate in Co ehise county was s1.i5 on the huE- dred. This year it is expected to be about one-third of what it was last year, or 50 cents on the hundred. The increase in the assessed wealth in CO chise county this year is about what the average increase in the state amounts to, tbe county total going rem s3i. .0O0, ,O0O last year to sS7,oo0,-
 this year Were it not for the
 rmous demands of our state gov
 nent. or if the state tax levy this
 bore the same ratio to valuation as last the taxpayers of Cochise coun- ty would be relieved of at least one fourth of the amount they will be compelled to pay to meet the extrava- gant methods which have been intro duced into our state government
 
 For the tax money paid in Cochise county the taxpayers are doubly in formed of its use. who gets it and what for. The board of supervisors publish monthly allowances and then the Cochise County Taxpayers asso- clation publishes it's report and sug- gestions on expenditures every six months. The last semi-annual report of the taxpayers' association reflected great credit on our present county government. showing a reduction in expense for the first six months of the present year of s27.0O0 as compared with the like period last year. If the state government could make show ing ike this a state tax levy of 30 cents would be ample this year. where as according to report it will be dou- ble that amount The people of the state have no way of keeping them so,ves informed as to the expenditure of state tax money, The board of con trol publishes list Of warrants in q local paper in Phoenix. but this in formation Is only available to the subscribers of that paper.
 The Review is a firm believer m the benefits that may accrue and does ac crue from the organization of taxpay CTS, association. These associations are not for the purpose of spying on ol ,n any way meddling with the busi ness of public officials, but for thu ,aref,d studying of the county an' nuuicipai governments for the pur nose of locating any extravaganza O u,.stefuI use of public money. Cochis' ,ounty was the pioneer in the organ 
 ;zation of a taxpayers association cDa county came second and Mar coma undertook this important worl during the present year. Every count .bou,d provide such an organization sueb an -orEsnizatiep ylll bring aoou closer study of econemieal method bv all it's members as well as by al omc,als. who should be glad to cor slider suggestions at all times.
 When the Maricops county taxpal CTS association was organized in PhO' nix there was talk of organizing