The Calumet news., 1914-08-13
BEFORE
THE BOARD OF
EQUALIZATION
Copper Country Counties Seek
Reduction In Valuation

Attorney w. j. Galbraith of Calu-
met left today for Lansing where he
will appear before the state board of
equalization, at the sessions beginning
Monday, representing this county i'm
the effort which will be made To secure
a reduction in the equalized valua-
ton, that is the amount at which this
county is appraised in the total as
sessed valuation of the state. A. ID.
Ed dHards, chairman of the county
board of supervisors, also will at
tend the meeting OF the state board,
leaving on Saturday for Lansing.
Mr. Galbraith and Supervisor :.
Russell Smith will represent Kewee-
nav county at the state board of
equalization meeting.
Under the Michigan laws the
amount Of the school, township, city
and county taxes are determined each
year by the local boards, namely: the
school boards fix the school tax. the
township boards fix the township tax
and the highway tax, and the boards Of
supervisors fix the county tax, general
and special.
Proportion Of State Tax.
The matter of determining the rela-
tive proportion or percentage of state
tax to be paid, however. is unique in
Michigan. Prior to the session of 1911,
the state board Of equalization, which
then consisted of the state treasurer,
A.
the land commissioner and the lieu
tenant governor, met i'm August of
each fifth year; L. @. i'm August, 1891,
August 1896. August 1901, August 1906,
and August 1911.
by the amendment OF 1911 the per-
sonnel Of the board was changed by
dropping therefrom the lieutenant gov
ernor and adding in his place the
chairman of the state tax commission,
and providing that the state board Of
equalization should meet every third
and fifth year. commencing with the
year 1911.
IL therefore happens that instead
of the several counties paying the
percentage of state tax determined at
the meeting of the state board Of
equalization in August, 1911, for five
years. a new equaliza ton is to be made
at the meeting To be held in Lansing
commencing August 18th instant
How This County Has Fared.
1t is interesting TO note the equalized
value of HoughtCn county as placed by
the state board % equalization for the
past twenty three years. For the year
1891. Houghton county was equalized
at $40, 900, and was required to pay
for the succeeding five years 1859 per
cent of the entire state tax. At the
meeting of 1896, Houghton county was
equalized at s42,5OO.OOO. and was re-
quired to pay 3.S45 per cent of the
state tax. At the equalization of 1901,
Houghton county was equalized at
Sl40 O00 000 and required to pay SSH
per cent of the state tax.
At the equalization of 1906. Hough-
ton county was again equalized at
s14O 900. but on account of the in
crease Of the total valuation of the
state. her percentage of the state tax
for the next five years was S.013 per
cent of the entire state tax.
AT the equalization of 1911. Houghton
county was equalized at S100000O00,
and required to pay 4.37 per cent OF
the entire state tax. At the session
of 1911, the total valuation Of the
state. as set by the state board Of
equalization. was increased from ST.
734, 600 900 to s2,2SS, 600 900, while the
valuation of Houghton county was re-
duced from Sl4O,OOO.OOO to s10O, ,OOO, 600.
Means Big Saving.
II may also he interesting To note the
amount Of state taxes paid by Hough-
Continued on 9th Page, 3rd Column.