The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1914-10-30
REyWAH COUNTY A
PRACTICAL DIVISION.
County Division Will Lower
Taxes in KOOtenai County.
Some Reasons Why.
(BY DIVISION CoMMlTTEE)

(BY DIVISION CoMMITTEE)
The proposed new County OF Ben
wah follows geographical lines en-
tirely, the north boundary line Of
Benwah county following the divide
between the Cgur d'Alene, and St.
J,e rivers, and only taking from
Kootena county such territory as IS
naturally tributary to the southern
part of the county. The trade and
commerce Of the Inhabitants Of this
territory naturally flow southwark,
and the new C1unty of Benwah In
cudes no territory that is tributary
to any city or town In Kootenai
county, or properly belongs within
the old county. This line OF division
has been approved by the business
men in the north part o! the county
of Kootenai and by the business men
Of the present county seat, and Is the
oaly practical division Of Kooteuai
county that is fair to both the North
and South ends. (See Map)
Area, Population and Valuation.
Present area OF Kootenai county
1880 So mi
Area of proposed new coun-
ty OF Benwah $50 SO mi
Territory to be left inKoote-
mai county after division l400 So mi
Population OF Kootenai county 22749
Population OF Benwah county $500
Population 10 Kootenai county
after division l7249
Assessed valuation OF Kootenai
county for years l9l3-l9l4
s28, ,224, ,s8e 90
Assessed valuation Of pro-
posed Benwah county 7,073,0lO.OO
Assessed valuation Of
Kootenai county after
division 19,l5l,S7 90
Required by law for every county:
Valuation $1,000, 10000
Area 400 square miles
Proposed new County of Benwah
has over seven times the required
valuation, and over twice the required
area.
Thus 1t can be seen that by the
creation of Benwah county only one
third Of the area and not quite one.
third OF the assessed valuation Of
kootenai county will be taken away,
and will leave Kootenai county with
an area Of l4OO square miles aud with
an assessed valuation OF $l9.l5l,879
90. This will still keep Kootenai
county as one OF the largest countits
within the state OF Idaho.
Taxes and Taxation.
1t is a matter OF record that in the
case OF all county divisions made in
Idaho by the state legislature, the
rate OF taxation, both In the old
county and in the new county, not
only has not increased after the
DIVISION but with one or two except
Ions has always DECREASED. For
instance, when Bonner county was
taken from Kootenai county In 1907
tne rate Of taxation in Kootenai
county decreased each year from 81
mills 10 1905 and q mills in 1906 to
10 mills in 1918 and with the except
Ion OF the year of creation the Bonner
county tax levies dropped from q
mills In 1905 TO l03 mills in 1913.
Inc same has held true in tie case of
every county division. THESE ARE
FACTS.
Less Expense Means Less Taxation
One plain reason for the decrease
10 tne tax levy by division OF the
county is shown In the abstract OF
expenditures Of Kootenai county for
one fiscal year ending April IL, 1914,
oeglnning on page Z of the annual
financial s'a' ement OF D. E. Dandy.
county Auditor. This statement
shows:
That OF the $lO,725.49 that it cost
W run the auditors and recorders
once, $8,25l.35 went to pay deputies.
That of the $l4,l .6s paid to run
'he sheriff's Office, 81. 900 90 went for
deputies and 81, 26s 05 went for mis-
ceilaneous and travelling expenses.