The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-09-03
LEVY IS FIXED BY
THE STATE, BOARD

900 to meet its running expenses for
1915 and to raise this amount the
state board of equalization yesterday
fixed the general ad valorem tax rate
for general state purposes at .002116-
669, two and eleven.hundredths mills.
This is the only levy the board made
and will be the only one made for
it still has on hand approximately
$4,000 raised during the Hawley ad-
ministration to meet its general inter-
est and public building endowment
tax and levies for these were there
fore not required. This years general
levy Is less by thirty.seven hundredths
of mill than the levy Of 1918, which
was .002483. AS result many coun-
ties In this state will not be required
to pay as heavy state tax for next
year as they did to meet the states
expenses this year, for which $1,O40,-
1852 was raised. The reduction in
dollars and cents in the levy as
tlASU Is |14V,1OA.
Board eIashes Recommen daticns
The state board slashed practically
all Of the recommendations laid be.
fore it by the state tax commission.
Where the tax commission had re-
commended raises in the farm land
classifications. the state beard SO
equalized them as to bring about a
seven per cent reduction. These re-
auctions were made in agricultural,
grazing and waste land classes.
The tax commission recommended
an increase Of practically $500 900
In railroad valuations, raising the
valuations on branch lines but with
but few exceptions not disturbing
last years valuations on main lines
Tho board Of equalization reduced
this recommended raise to 100000,
which represents the increased valu-
alton on common carriers, after the
board had equalized the valuations
The board ordered slight reduc-
ton on main line valuations hut in
tho aggregate. including improvements,
raises the total Valuations Of the
railroads in this state the amount
given above over the valuation OF a
year ago.
The total valuations of power COM
panies were raised by the board. Tho
general valuation amounts to about
a five per cent decrease, hut owing
to the improvements made by a num-
Der of the companies, including the
big plant of the Utah Power & Light
company at Grace, the total valuation
Is increased over last year There
is also an increase in the valuations
of telephone and telegraph lines. The
Western Union Telegraph company
was given a reduction from $3.50 to
$3.50 per mile on its pole lines.
Reduce Timber Recommendation
The Clearwater county timber as
sessment over which there was so
strong a conflict was settled by the
board by reducing tho recommends
ton of the state tax commission for a
30 per cent reduction, amounting in
all to approximately $4,000, 900, to a
20 per cent reduction, the reduction
to apply to the land alone, or the
value of the land under the timber
and not the timber. This equalizes
the valuations as to northern Idaho
timber counties to $165O per acre.
The Latah county cut on timber was
reduced to Is per cent by the board.
The raise recommended for the Boise
county timber was allowed to stand.
Mono Of the tables showing the as
easements as adjusted on railroad,
telephone, telegraph, public utilities,
Pullman and private car companies,
lands and timber was adjusted yes
terday. by the state auditor SO that
the itemized adjustments and the to-
tails could not be secured.
What Counties Must Pay State
The ad valorem or general tax
levy for 1915 as set by the board yes
terday is based on the total valua-
tions for last year. The following
table shows the amount of tax each
county in the state will be required
to pay under the new general state
levy this year as compared to the
amount they paid tho state under the
1913 levy: e..
1914 1918
Ada -. -. :. $99.177.53 116,262
Adams :. -. 11,075.75 1883
Bannock :. =. :. 52,9216s 5s.3s3
Bear Lake :. -. 1S,350S5 10 s8a
Bingham :. 2S.33826 33,OSO
Blame :. 22,295.55 25.1OO
Boise 15.S1o.47 1928
Bonner -. 64,65O.45 63.697