The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-06-30
TUESDAY, JUNE 80. 1914.
LEST We FORGET

ture of an eye-opener and has put
us to thinking. From this mem
orandum we find that in 1901
Madison county had a total as
sessed value of $6,902,O0O in
round numbers, and a tax rate
of 559 cents for county purposes.
Comparing that with the total
assessed value of Madison county
for 1914, which is $13,353, 900 in
round numbers, gives a net in
crease in the assessed value of
the property of Madison county
of S4,451, 900. Reviewing the cur
rent history of Madison county,
we don't recall that any property
of great value has been brought in
to the county, no new enterprises
have been started, no new CAPT
tai has been brought in, yet there
has been an increase in the value
of the taxable property of the
county to the extent of so per
cent.
This is startling. The increase
of course in the value of the
property is wholly imaginary. 1t
will not produce bushel more
corn, tobacco, hemp or other
staple crops than it did thirteen
years ago. Yet by the mere force
of a vivid imagination its value
has been forced UP so per cent.
The increase of taxable property
this year over that of last year is
the startling sum of $380,540,
every nickel of which increase is
purely fictitious and was brought
about by good ink a flowing pen.
The Madison Fiscal Court has
assumed to announce to the over
burdened tax payer that it had
benefcently reduced his burden
of tax one cent on the $500. The
fact about it is that by the figures
of the returning board, sometime
called the board of equalization,
there is added the stupenduous
sum of S264,990 to the tax burden.
Taking the foregoing sum of
S12,902,550 for the assessed value
of 1918, at the tax rate of Sl.2O
to the 500, and we find that the
tax burden for 1913 was $155, 100
Taking the total assessed value
for 1914 of $13,353,OO0 at a tax
rate of $1.19 per $500 and we
have a tax of $15S,900, being ar
excess of taxes collected for this
year over that of 1913 of $3,110
1t is true the Fiscal Court or
dered a reduction of one cent OF
the tax rate, but it is equally true
that the people of Madison coun
ty.dance to the tune of payin!
S3,110 more this year of thei
hard earned money for the divin
privilege of living in Madison
county under the supreme guiC
ance of the Fiscal Court, tha1
they did for the like privileg
last year. A mathematical calcl
lation shows that instead of n
ducing the tax burden one cen
to the 500, that it has actual
been increased one and two third
cents.
The foregoing calculations al
based on the state and count
tax. The whole tax burden fc
the county of Madison, the Gil
of Richmond, Berea and otht
special taxes, exceeds the enc
nous sum of over 100000.
In this age of profound pea
and when the county has advan
eb to the highest point of civi
cation, we find that for the pu
pose of having and maintainir
our benefcient government, v
must dig out of the ground al
take from the pockets of the Ri
and poor alike, the enormol
burden of over 100000.
We would not detract one 10
from the grace and dignity wi
which the Honorable Fiscal Cou
and the members thereof presi'
over the good old county of Ma
ison, nor would we detract fro
their reputation fol. rigid econon
but unfortunately the results
cold mathematics show that
less than thirteen years the pr
pie of Madison county have be