The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-06-05
PROPERTY VALUES
SHOULD BE LISTED HIGHER.

Frankfort, KY, May 30.-In state
ment issued today by the Board of
Equalization, County Assessors are
urged to cooperate with the board in
an effort to reduce the tax rate and
equalize the burden of taxation. This
can be done, says the board, by re-
quiring every person to assess his
property at fair cash value, as is re-
quired by law.
The statement follows:
| After a thorough examination of
the Assessors returns, as of Septem-
Der /, 1918, the State Board Of Equali-
cation, while endeavoring to perform
| its duty as required by law, has be-
come convinced that If the laws are
literally enforced by the Assessors the
burden of taxation can be properly
equalized and the tax rate in the coun-
ties, cities and state materially re-
duced.
"In order that the State Board of
Equalization, which will assemble in
February. 1915, may not encounter the
troubles which have confronted us, and
in view of the fact that you have re-.
Gently entered upon the discharge of
your duties as Assessor of your coun-
ty, we take the liberty of advising you
when making your assessments as of
September /, 1914, that you follow lit
orally the laws as contained in the
statute. Upon being indicted into the
office of Assessor you were required by
Section 4044, of the Kentucky Statutes,
to take the following oath:
II do swear that will administer to
every person listing property Of every
description the oath prescribed by law,
and fix the value of all property to be
listed by me at its fair, cash value es-
timated at the price II would bring at
a fair voluntary sale, without favor or
impartiality, and l will diligently
search and inquire so that no person
shall be passed over, or shall fail to
have an opportunity to give list of
his taxable property, and l will truly
report all persons who shall fail or re-
fuse to list their taxable property af-
ter being duly called on by me for that
purpose, or who have given false or
fraudulent list, so help me God"
Section l72 of the Constitution di-
reefs that all property shall be assess
ed for taxation at its fair, cash value
estimated at the price 1t would bring
at voluntary sale.
Before an Assessor can receive pay
for his labors, he and his deputies
must appear in open Court before the
i County Judge and make the oath as
set out in Section 4071 of the Kentucky
Statutes.
1.-THE Constitution and the Statute
requires you to assess all property,
except such property as is exempt from
taxation, at the fair, cash value of such
property and it further provides that
the standard is the price at which the
property would sell at a fair voluntary
sale.
Section 4O47 of the Kentucky Std
tutes requires that you shall admins
ter the oath as set forth in that sec
ton. to each property owner before
taking his list.
THE tax laws are sufficient. If en-
forced uniformly throughout the State,
to produce all the revenues to support
the city, county and governments on a
tax rate much lower than the present
rate. This uniform assessment can
only be obtained through the co-opera-
ton of the Assessors. We urge you to
join with this board in an effort to re-
duce the tax rate and equalize the
burden of taxation by requiring every
person to assess his property at its
fair, cash value, as is required by law
We hope that the returns from your
county for the year 1914 will show a
more perfect assessment than has been
returned in the past.
Trusting that you will carefully
study the statutes. and will enforce the
law as therein written, for the best
interest OF Kentucky.
IN. j. Meagher. w. J. Beals, ]. f.
Howes, r. G. Cary, NJ. C. Champion.
Matt Moore and Charles p Weaver
members Of the State Board Of
Equalization