Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-12-04
OTERO COUNTY
TAX LEVIES
AS Finally Set by the County
Commissioners
OBJECTIONS WERE
NOT MADE TO STICK
Tax Levy Lower-Taxes Prac-
tically Same as Last Year.

the state tax commission the assess
ed valuation of Otero county as re-
turned by Assessor Gaugcr is AT the
present moment undergoing a hori-
zontal raise OF ten per cent, says
the La Junta Tribune.
The valuation for 1914 as returned
by the assessor, and including the
valuation OF corporation property as
returned by the state board of equal
tax commission, which sits as a
board OF review and passes upon the
abstracts of assessments as made by
the various county assessors, ordered
increases in the state amounting TO
$135,054, Otero county's share
OF this increase is $2,154,l6o. The
increase directed to be made in Den
yer is S90,377,050. the commission
classifying Denver as being assessed
below so per cent OF the value of its
property. Twelve counties were given
credit for an assessment OF over 90
per cent, and Otero county was
classified as being among these
There were sixteen counties in which
increases were ordered amounting to
over $l,000,000
Last year the state tax commits
sion raised the valuations OF almost
every county in the state. and in this
they were sustained by the supreme
court Last year the assessed valu-
alton OF Otero county was raised
about SS5.000, the raise being con-
fined to the valuation OF cattle and
sheep. For many weeks the county
commissioners have been wrestling
with the problem as to just what
method they were to pursue TO IN.
crease the porpcrty valuations OF
~
Oe6O0O. being of tire opinion. after
going over the list, that property IN
Otcro county was assessed for all
it was worth. and that an increase OF
S2.OOOO00 could not be made with
out making an assessment that
would be unfair In view OF the de-
cfsion of the supreme court last year,
however. sustaining the increase
made by the state tax commission It
was probably decided that it would
not be wise to contest the matter IN
the courts and the county commis-
sioncrs issued an order authorizing
the county assessor 10 make nor
izontal raise OF ten per cent in the
valuations as returned by him. No
increase was made in the assessment
OF corporation property, and the val
uations as returned by the state
hoard OF equalization wcrG allowed
to stand.
The ten per cent raise in the valu-
ations OF Otcro county viii result IN
our ante to the state house beng
raised S2.o94.2o, and this will be al
most enough 10 pay the $1,000 sal
arv OF some pet OF Honest John
Shafroth. who will probably INSIST
upon being retained in office undeT
the rules and regulations OF the eiyi
M the
state tax commission in raising inc
100 per cent values placed by the
county assessor was TO get SZ,994.Z'
more state taxes out OF Otero coun-
ty. The raise was ordered before
the election when the democrats
quite confidently figured on being
their own successors and having this
total increase OF Sl35.O54.lI9 TO
spend. Fincl But. the best laid
plans OF mice and men, also demo
Gratis. some times gang after gle
whatever that is. Governor IarI-
son. however. will be on deck carry
in January, 1915. and can use some
Of This surplus change in fquidating
the enormous deficiency caused by
democratic misrule during the past
six years. That's fine too - Tor
Carlson. Six. years ago the stale
Government was getting along on
half the money it is raising now and
laving up a surplus each year that
would have eventually wiped out all
state debts. The next administration
will probably need all the surplus
money it can get hold OF il Colorado
is to be restored to its former prs
tine plory-financially The eff
Cheney OF the state is below par, IN
more ways than ono. and has been
for some time. and it will take loo
per cent efficiency in every depart,
ment to cure it OF tho financial ana
other ills with which it has ben al
flictcd. J
Appropriations for the estimated
expenses OF Otero county Tor the
wear 1915 were made to the various
funds as follows: ooo
Otero county, levies -..-..-----..--.-S22'oOoo 'Ooo
Roads and bridges -.-~--------.----- oo'ooo
SPE;,i oo,t;rgcrt - $500
Special advertising ...-;,---:.-,,:--.-. ...-;,---::..-,,:---. ooo
SpSe,adi pi,d poor "O"se OD 1000
General school ..-...................... II 300
Otcro Irrigation District main am
tenance ..-..--..-.-a.-.--.....-.,.---- Eo'VvV
Otcro Irrigation District, .o
bonds zlouo
Interest on bonds, Otero .
Irrigation District ....--.-.......-... lo'ozo
Holbrook Irrigation District
maintsnanee --.--,.------..--.-..----.-. le-3+o