Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-20
Property Owners Have Until 4
Pm. June I to Lodge
Complaints.
AFFORDS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO ADJUST ASSESSMENTS
Increase of About rs Per Cent Is
Shown on Valuation of Property
Over Three Years Ago.

With the object of affording every op-
portunity to property owners to lodge
complaint against the findings of the
new trfennial assessment, Assessor
William P. Richards today announced
that the period for appeal will not
close until pm. Monday. June 1. The
law states that no appeals may be re-
ceived after June 1. Instead Of closing
the boks Saturday, May 30, Mr.. Rich
ards has decided to extend the time to
the full limit allowed by law.
Numerous appeals were received today
and 1t Is believed that fully 500 addi-
tional ones will be filed between now
and the close of the month. An increase
Of about % per cent over the record of
three years ago is shown by the $500
complaints received to Cate. it is stated.
Two factors are believed by Mr.. Rich
ards to be responsible for the failure
of many persons to request the board
to reconsider assessments made against
them. One Is that they have confused
their tax bills for the present year
with the new assessments and are un-
der the impression that no changes
have been made in the ratings on their
property.
Urged to Make Inspection.
In this connection, it is pointed out,
the current tax bills are based on the
old triennial assessment. All property
owners are urged to make an immedt-
ate inspection of the new assessment
to ascertain what, if any, changes
have been made.
The other element entering into the
is the possibility of many owners
hesitating to make appeals because
they think it would be useless effort
to try to persuade the board to change
its original ratings.
Instead Of being annoyed by appeals.
the board, Mr.. Richards said, is de-
sirious Of obtaining as many Of them
as possible for the purpose of equaliz-
ing the new assessment.
/. Office Is Beseiged.
Many PERSONS said Mr. Richards.
"who have intended to examine the new
assessment books have delayed in the
matter until this month SO as to obtain
their bills and look at the assessment at
the same time. AS consequence. the
Office is beseiged by property owners in
quiring after the new assessment figures
and attempting to appeal at the same
time.
There is probably some little mis-
understanding in regard to the present
bills. Numerous persons appear to be
under the impression that they can ap-
peal against the bills received, while, as
matter of fact, the amounts ON the bills
are the same as last year and not sub
ject to appeal. inasmuch as they are
based on the last triennial assessment.
Then. again, persons after examining
their bills and seeing no change for last
year. think that no appeal Is necessary.
because they think that these bills will
remain the same for another year.
'As a matter of fact. the appeals now
going on are for the years 1915, 1916
and 1917 and it is necessary to compare
this years bills with the new books Of
assessment to find out what is to be
made for the following year.
Should Not Hesitate to Appeal.
The board has been anxious to have
the new assessment examined by every
interested person and wherever there is
any apparent overassessment no hesi-
fancy should exist about making appeals,
as much enlightment has already been
obtained from facts and figures presented
during the last few months in oral and
written appeals.
The written appeals showing prices
paid for property and refusals and Of
fers which are over the sworn state
ment of an agent or owner are of espe-
cial value in arriving at correct assess
ments."
While a few complaints have been
definitely acted upon, the majority of
them will not be disposed of until after
the close of the appeal period. The
board will consider one block at
time. considering all the appeals made
on assessments in that block, and ex-
poets to handle about 100 cases a day