The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1914-01-06
NOTE OF WARNING
OFFERED TAXPAYERS
CONTINUED from Page u

will begin to realize what an increased
valuation means to US and to under
stand why so many of US have had to
get somebody to- go on our note at the
bank in order to raise tax money.
Value Of 1912 Assessment.
THE actual value of all the prop
erty in Latah county subject to taxa
ton in 1912, according to the assessors
returns equalized was $19,616,065. This
is found by multiplying the assessed
value, which was on 40 per cent
basis by 21a. The value of all taxable
property in Latah county, in the year
1913, according to the assessors re-
turns as equalized, was $22,243, O18.00.
Therefore we own, according to these
figures, $2,626, 9530O worth more pro-
perty in 1913 than we owned in 1912.
THE amount of money raised in
the county by taxes in 1912 was $780,
875.06. In 1913 the amount of money
raised in the county by taxes was
1886, 890.3S. In other words we have
been called upon to deliver up in re-
turn for the benefits of government,
schools, roads, ETC., Sill, 015.32 more in
1913 than we were required to pay for
like blessings in 1918.
Heavy School Levy.
"Of this increase $46,369.10 arose
from special school taxes levied by the
respective school districts, by vote of
the patrons in ordinary districts, and |
by act of the trustees in independent |
districts; $4,295.6S of the increased |
taxation arose from special road taxes, |
provided for by petition of the inhab-
itants of the respective road districts
and $27,252.04 arose from additional |
taxes in cities and villages, levied by
the mayors and councils of the munich
palities within the county, making a
total of $77,916.S2 increase in 1913 over
1912 for these special purposes, leav-
ing $33,098.50 more money for state
and county purposes in 1913 than in
1912. OF this last mentioned increase
the state receives about 100000, leav-
ing $29,09850 additional money raised
for county purposes, which last men
toned sum is under control of the
board of county commissioners.
Raised Too Much Money.
Assuming that our expenditures
Tor the year 1912 were sufficient to
procure benefits of government, and |
believe all tax payers will agree with
ne that they were. there has been
'aised in 1918, as shown above, SILL
1882 more money in 1913 than enough
o meet the requirements. 1t Is true
hat with respect to special funds the
oregoing statement may not be al
ogether accurate. AS an instance we
will take the case of the city of Mos
ow, which municipality incurred an d
Expense of about $16,00000 in the mat
er of laying new water-mains in the
reefs which have been recently paved.
'hese water-mains were paid for this u
ear and that fact partly accounts for B
ur high taxes here in Moscow. Care y
III consideration of the large sums of
honey raised in 1913 in excess of any
ums ever found to be necessary to be
aised in this county before in any one .
ear, prompts me to believe and assert q
lat many of those exercising the tax a
,vying power have discharged their NJ
uties without needing the fact that G.
lie state of Idaho had shifted from a &c
,tual value. u
THAT this has been a serious mis-
Ike almost every tax payer in the al
'unty is in position to and is probably VI
ore or less anxious to testify, but CT
is a mistake which is as yet but Dt
IF made. If this money is needlessly tn
improvidently expended the other CT
IF of the mistake will have been 10
ade, but If it is carefully safeguard en-
to the end that our 1914 taxes be pr
duced as they can and should be re- til
iced, no other or greater calamity
III result from the blunder than the
to the tax payers of
wing had to dig up an exorbitant mi
Mount of money with which to pay Fl,
cir taxes in 1913, and the loss of til
e earning power of this excessive ST
lount for a year. fo-
Surplus Can Be Saved. on
IF those in charge Of the safe
ard,no ond d;shrrso,oon+ oe o,r n,,h an
funds properly discharged their
ties toward this sum of Sill, 015.32 IVA
d keep the expense of government eoi
wn to where it was in 1912 the said 'es
n of money will be intact with which
pay the expense of government in
a, so that we will have to pay in
cember of this year and up to the Jal
It Monday of January, 1915, the diff all
ence between $275, 1880, the true agl
t of government as fixed by our eX- IN
lditures in 1912, and $111,015.32, the up
ess raised in 1918, leaving only ~
4,859.74 to be raised by taxation this I'm
+, or $222,030.64 less to be raised put
taxation in 1914, than we have had
nav in 1919 for