Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-15
CHANGES URGEDD BY
STATE TAX BOARD
Continued from Tirs. page.p

lucas inevitably an endless variety
Of valuation and opens the door TO
,buses for which the law offers no
remedy. The accurate assessment or
all property is absolutely essential TO
a fair distribution of the tax burden.
and ought to be the first objective of
legislation aimed at the improve
nent of our taxing system"
Taxation on the Increase.
The report saws In its opening that
he returns from he various taxing
districts giver in the appendix show
hat the burden of taxation continues
20 increase The valuation upon
which taxes are raised locally Is
more than s75,000,000 higher this year
than in 1918. The average tax rate
9or the year was s2,024, as against
4 ,979 last year.
The erection of new buildings. nor
nal aDpreciatiou of land values, more
4ccurate appraisements in making as
easements and a more thorough list
Ine of personal property are ascribed
as the causes OF the increase IN the
ratshles. The increased tax rate re-
spIts from the fact that local expenai-
Fures have increased in greater ratio
han the source of local revenue SAYS
he report. A reduction in the NUM-
sipal budgets is suggested as rem
ady for this condition.
The Board OF Equalization OF Taxes
notes with satisfaction in its report
that the bank stock tax act and the
ak map act, embodying the ideas OF
TWO of its recommendations made in
he past, have now become laws, and
IN again advocating the recommends
lions II makes with respect to the
system of assessing, the board says
that added experience has only
strengthened its faith In the worth OF
these suggestions, which are offered
in the interest of Just taxation.
The returns from the different
counties of the State show that the
net valuation of property locally as
sessed, exclusive OF the stock OF
banks and trust companies, is s2,4St,-
sos. Oss.61 for the year 1914, an increase
Of 5.344 .345.SS over 1918. says the
report The net valuation is made UP
as follows: Real estate, exclusive of
second class railroad property, ST.
0S4 655 S29.1S: second-class railroad
property, s104 81, s39; personal prop
erty, 1928 763 BAL 43, and deductions for
debt, $1,000 ,421. These valuations do
not include any bank or trust COM |
pany stock. which was separately as |
sessed under chapter 90 Of the laws |
Of 1914 The total taxes on such stock. |
raised BIZ a flat tax of three-quarters |
of 1 per cent. on values aggregating |
s94 173. 459 81 was $685. which was
s514 1896 more than was raised on |
this class of property last year.
More Personal Property.
The valuation Of personal property |
has also been increased during the |
past year by over 100000, which |
was formerly sworn off to Offset |
debts. Chapter 1871 of the laws of 1914 |
changed the law permitting this |
swearing off of debts, and the deduc-
tons allowed In 1914 amounted to
only 81. 0S0. 421 in the State, as against
So, 40S, 321 for the preceding year
owing to the repeal of the Hillery
maximum fax rate act at the last SEES
sion of the Legislature the limitations
formerly placed by law on the tax
rates have been removed, and as a re-
suit the rate has been increased four
and half points during the past
year.
The property in the State which is
by law exempt from taxation, accord
ing to the report made public today,
totals 1921. S95, 21634 This consists or
nublic school and other school prop |
erty, public property, church and |
charitable property and cemeteries.
There is also a considerable class OF
pronertv DESIGNATED as "non-taXable, y
such as securities either exempt or
otherwise not Of taxable nature.
Increase by Counties.
The report shows that the largest
increase in ratables in 1914 has come
from Essev county, with total in
crease Of SIS. 265 SIS. of which * S9S,5lO
comes from Newark Hudson has in
creased its poll tax from SIP last
year to 1881 persons taxable in 1914,
as the result of special instructions to
its assessors on this matter. The in
crease in ratab1es over 1918 in the
different counties is rs follows; At
lantic, S5,413, 33s.71; Bergen, $5,2S1,-
1928: Burlington, SLIGO 542; Camden,
81, SIS .01767; Cape May, S2,12' 925;
1894 SIS; Essex, SIS 265,-
SIS; Gloucester, Ss05.60l; Hudson,
$40 500 s14: Hunterdon, s479,792; Mer-
Ger, SO. 5s6. 414; Middlesex, SO 662. 212;
1920 sos; Morris. s949
5O2.52: Ocean. s410,4 57, Passaic, 80 574,-
842: Salem. s59s IA; Somerset, $685.
403. Sussex, S4S4 459 Union, S7.869.
g14 As: Warren. s2i9 $50. The total in
crease, therefore, in the twenty-one
counties amounts to SIS 344.245.SS.
The bank stock tax act yielded dur
ing the year the sum of S705,3S722 in
revenue to the taxing districts and
counties as against $3.50 949,17 derived
from this source in 1918. The in
creases. under this new law in revenue
to the different counties is shown as
follows: Atlantic, 500 546 Sc; Bergen.
$50. 1885, 20; Burlington. $50 630.14; Cam
den, s31 1888. 81; Cape May, s5102,1S,
s1S976 16; Essex. s221,-
9S6.76: Gloucester, 81 .430 "a; Hudson.
1929. 930. Hunterdon $40 934 go: Mer-
Ger. s34.275.11. Middlesex, s17769.64;
s31.57512. Morris, s27,-
PSI. 20; Ocean, 81 292, Passaic, $751;
5sS 06; Salem, sS.34636; Somerset. "a
1850; sussex. IS $3.50: Union, s29,-
l07, Warren. S13149 The total valua-
ton OF bank stock under the new law
this year amounted TO 1874 .179 459 "a.
Last yeau the assessment on this kind
Of taxable property was So. 727 1854.
During the past year the munich
palities Of New Jersey wished to raise
moneys aggregating S32 947 42675 and
toward this sum they received 1882,
SIS 81 ia bank stock taxes. The coun-
lies of the State were to raise 81 I
ia 1905 required by the taxing dis
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