Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1913-11-08
STATE TREASURY NOW
OVERLOOKING
TAX COMMISSION HAS MADE
EVERYBODY RICH.

The lax commission mas pracuc-
ally finished its work on the assess
ment OF the State. and has made radi-
cal increases bringing the total as
sessed valuation in the State up to
Sll5,G0O.000 from the former mark
OF $l0l 100000. an increase of $l4,-
OUD.0O0 This at the State tax rate OF
90 cents hundred will provide addi-
tional revenue OF $92. 400 and the addi-
tional revenue provided by the coun-
ties can be figured in dollars by multi
plying 400 by the county rate.
Lyon county property. In many IN
stances was lowered The Assessor
OF this county followed the advice of
the State Commission from the start
and the valuations seemed pretty high.
In many other counties the Assessors
did not pay much attention to the Tax
Commission and, consequently, the
valuations in those counties were
raised to proper figure This, how
ever. was not as high as the valua-
tions in Lyon county. and Lyon.
therefore, was entitled to a reduction,
and received it.
The radical increase involves an
increase made last Saturday on pub
lie utilities to the extent of SIol.OOO
and an increase made Monday on
improvements on mining properties,
mills. buildings, etc. OF approximately
S500.000 The rest includes for the
most part horizontal raises on land.
etc. by classes and counties.
The increases totalling 100000 on
mine improvements were sent out by
telegraph Monday to the various
county auditors Those on public
utilities were made by mail Saturday
last.
The public utilities raised in the
State were as follows:
Truckec River General Electric Co.
from 1881 $50 to 55S.l50
Reno Power. Light & Water Co.
from S252.o3O to S43600O
Bell Telephone Co. OF Nevada,
from SOL 900 to Sll2,OOO.
Pacific Power Co. from S55,2OO TO
S75.UU0
Nevada California Power Co. from
Sl70.3Sl, to $355 900
Tonopah Sewer * Drainage Co.
from $1,000 to $4,000
Tonopah Water Co from Sl2O,OOO
TO Slo0,WO
Golaheld Consolidated Water Co
from SlUl 100 to Sl5U,UUO.
Nevada Telephone x Telegraph Co
from S42 sos To $4,000
Carson Water Co from $+6,275 to
S55.0OU
Virginia & Gold Hill Water Co.
from Sl56S43 to Sl75.00O.
These increases were made by spe-
cial order.
Increase in banks in Washoe coun-
" over last years assessment added
Sl5.000 and the State increase includ-
ing Washoe, over last year, is S65,-
90
Tax Commissioner Colburn is re
ported as saving: This increase OF
Sl+.UO0,000 in the total assessment
valuations in Nevada means many
things 1t will provide adequate rev
cnue for the State on its rate OF 90
cents a hundred. 1t will equalize as
scssmcnts by making those paying
on values below the average pay mp To
the average 1t does not hurt the
small owner. who is practically un-
touched. and il is no injustice to the
large owner who Is merely required
to pay.a reasonable and average value.
1t results in cqualizing the contribu
tion To the State from the various
counties. but the most important fact
is that il opens the door To the County
Commissioners to reduce the county
rate.
County rates based on aggregate
values OF Sl0l 100000 when applied
To existing values of 81 ll5.000,0O0 must
produce more money than the coun-
ties need. \ county tax rate based
on last wears values and multiplied
by this years rates will produce on
the average about IL per cent more
taxes than the Commissioners eX
pected when they levied the tax.
This added money to the counties
will be a surplus paid to the counties
by the taxpayers. The Commissioners
should see the way clear to reduce
the county tax rate so that taxes VIII
go down every time assessments go
up. They can do this next March
but | think there should be some way
of rebatino the rate for this year IN
the counties when il Is found more
money will be produced than expected.
The thing for the people to remem-
her is t.at unreasonable low assess
ments mean unreasonably high taxes
and reasonably high assessments
mean reasonably low taxes The coun-
ties have the opportunity now to cut
the county tax rate and il they do not
the burden the people will be high
assessments but extravaganza IN
spending county taxes.
As General result OF the eleva-
fions that have been made, the State
treasury will carry healthy surplus,
inSead of being burdcned by heavy
debt. as has been the case for sew
eral years