La Junta tribune., 1914-02-14
OTERO COUNTY TAXES
Taxes VIII Itc Much Higher for 1914,
Which viii he Good News for
the Taxpayers

] hi"''N " 'Ht peTlou WHeH tne TAX
payers will have received their little
cream colored postal cards notifying
them OF the amount of taxes they will
be called upon to pay for the year
1913, they will certainly be entitled
to an award of n gold medal for be-
ing braver than the traditional. allie
gorical, or whatever kind OF lion
1t is. that is alleged to be possessed
of great surplus OF courage
Assessor Gauger and his official
force are now at work extending the
tax rolls for the year 1913. The
/ tax roll should have been in the
hands of the county treasurer on
January /, 1914, bu, the Work OF
extending the taxes was held up on
account of the suit In the supreme
court between the city of Denver
and the state tax commission. and all
] the assessors in the state were noti-
! fled to discontinue work on the tax
rolls pending the decision of the su-
preme court. The tax commission
raised the valuations OF almost ey-
cry county in the state. and IN this
they were sustained by the supreme
court The assessed valuation OF
otero county was raised about ss5.-
600, the raise being confined to the
valuation on cattle and sheep. This
amounted to forty-three one hun
dredths OF one per cent on the total
valuation of the county,
The assessor expects to have the
work of extending the taxes COM
pletcd by March lst. aud the rolls
will then be turned over to the
county treasurer when all taxpayers
will receive their little postal cards
notifying them of the amount they
will be expected to pungle up for
| the good and welfare OF Otero county
In the year OF our Lord. one thou
sand. nine hundred and fourteen.
Your taxes for the year 1918 viii
be about SO more on each $1,000
of valuation. II you we're assessed
on valuation of 81 900 for the year
1912. your taxes would have amount
ed to Ss9 So. with a total tax levy OF
60 5-s mills. which was the tax rate
In La Junta for that year. II your
valuation In 1912 was $1,000. ON a
oue-third basis, IL would be 81 600
for the year 1913. when 1t is suppos-
ed to be on a fun cash basis with "A
valuation OF $4,000 for the year
1913. and tax rate of 2G.5 mills
the total levy in La Junta-your
taxes will amount to S79 90. or an
increase OF over SO. II your ynlua-
tiou Is no more than three times that
OF the previous year, This means
that taxes Ia Otero county will be
practically eight per cent, providing
the method of determing m. valua-
tion was the same as Ia previous
years. whereas, heretofore We have
considered them excessive with a tax
rate of between six aud seven per
cent ON a onc-,hird cash value ba-
sis
Tn. total property valuation In
Otoro county for th. year 1913 IN
s25. 1863 .bs3. on full cash yalu.
basis. as compared to ts.05s .sss for
III. previous year ON on.-,hird
cash yalu. basis This is an incr.as.
OF NOR. than 81 900, coo In excess OF
fh f..s. h.. kaln.fln ..f gh.. pr
vious year. The total number OF tax
schedules. or the number of people
whose names appear on III. tax rolls.
for the year 1913 IL S.t75. an In
crease over last year of min" tax
schedules.
Assessor Caug.r says that school
district No. II. with levy Of SIS
mills for school purposes. has tho
highest levy In the state. Last year
III" tax In school district No. II
amounted To about tbs,o0o. aud this
year IN. levy viii yield n revenue OF
about S6i 900 The levy for school
purposes In school district No. II.
with n valuation Of tS.30l.t61. In
one-t.nth OF u mill higher than tho
levy for municipal purposes In tho
| city OF La Junta. with u valuation OF
f3.&<s.2s7
tn. tax Of the Santa fe for tho
year 1871: was about $4,000. and
for the year 1913 II viii be some
thin. over $4,000. or an Increase
Of 5000 In ons short y.ar--and
Tax Agent Freeman stili on the Job
In Denver looking after the interests
OF the greatest railroad on earth.
The txx on the 1g.<7<.i acres In
the Otcro Irrigation District II $50
per acre on = valuation OF $40 pr
acre. In the Hoibrook irrisatjon
t1is( Ytrt With 4 (nfnt arrNn - of -.