La Junta tribune., 1913-04-19
FULL CASH VALUE ASSESSMENT,
Assessor Gaueer viii Live Up to the
Law and Assess Property at
Full Cash Value.

Assessor Gauger was In Denver
last week, along with sixty-one 9th.
er assessors of Colorado, attending
&C 0nierence which was held with
the governor. the attorney general.
the Colorado Tax Commission. and all
the Other powers tnat have to do
with the raising OF taxes to support
this Ereat commonwealth. When re-.
Quested for statement as to the
result OF the conference Mr.. Gauger
gave out the following:
The law has always been that all
property must be assessed at its ac.
tial value also 5000 exemption to be
allowed the head OF each family on
personal property. Ry agreement OF
the COUNTY assessors and the state
board OF equalization several years
ago Il was decided to assess at one
third Of actual value. Al that time
they should also have agreed to al.
low but one-third OF the 5000 exemp-
ton. The method used In assessing
therefore was wrong and the taxpayer
In order TO have the Law followed out
In the proper proportion, should have
had but So exemption and has not
been paying on personal property
that they should.
Each assessor IN Colorado has
been notified by the Colorado Tax
Commtssion who have Jurisdiction
over them, they must conform to
the law and assess at full cash value
and the attorney general has inform.
ed each assessor that he will prose
cute amy assessor who does not com
ply with the law. This viii bring in
great amount of taxes on personal
property which has been exempt IN
the past For example. taxpayer
who had ssoo worth Of personal prop
eriy vas assessed for $500 and al.
lowed 500 exemption. leaving moth
ing to psy Under the law he will
sov bc,Heesssd ssoo. Giving him
5000 cserptton. this viii leave ss0O
valuation to pay taxes on This me.
thod Of assessing personal property
will probably result In $1,000. 900
worih Of property being added to
the valuation of otero county that
has hitherto escaped taxation.
with nj least three times last
years yaluaiion. l.vies must n.ces.
sarily b. reduced as there IL only
certain amount OF money Ia be rails
ed hy The county. city and school dis.
trict raxex. therefore. should not
b" any higher. with the exception Of
the very small amount Of Increase
There may be- on account Of the eN-
"mpliou as expla above which
will not be enough 10 make very
material difference to any taxpayer.
In making this statement. &, is
with The Idea which We all have that
city o1uncils. school boards and
county commissioners will make their
levics In accordance with the assess.
.d value. there being only So much
funds 10 raise. however. n hardship
could b" worked on the taxpayers In
this way; We viii take for "Sampl.
the city ~ Rocky Ford. Las. years
levy VAS 10 mills on an assessed val.
uniion of 0n~.third This year they
will have st least three times the
valuation and To raise III" sam"
amount of funds "a 10 mill levy would
be- sufficient and should they make
levy of nay !: or ~ mills. taxes
would i~ higher and II would raise
The city several thousand dollars
more rcvenvc. The sam. applies 10
county and school districts
'In conclusion ! will Just SAY the
law Is clear and N. county assess.
or ha. but one duty Ia perform and
that Is IN Ass~~~ everything at its ne.
i,Ial 'nlue. being under heavy bond
Ia comply With IN" law aud under
Instructions he will be- prosecuted by
III. Attorney general " he doe. not,
II economy h practiced by those
In power II county. city and school
dis'ric'a N that o~ lcyic- are
made, taxes under above plan viii
certainly MI b. any higher. and In
my jndGea~nt will b~ reduced ''
The reveaue lac of 1901 especially
provides that al property In C"iorn.
do soaiD ~ ass~a~eA nj ia fun cash
value. ~ not = single assrssor IN
the state has ever ii,rd up TO H.
The first ysar tho ia~ wss In ~.
feet IN" ssssssrs met In Denver.
Just as they Aid this year aud sil
solemnly Agreed to assess property
NJ iis nm cash valuc. II. ". Adr.