The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-06-04

There is such a lack of knowledge
or understanding of the tax question,
and SO much anxiety manifested by
the tax payers generally to learn the
causes for the high taxes of the
last year, and almost hourly someone
requests me to forecast what the tax
will be for the ensuing year; that with
your permission, Mr. Editor, will
lation to that question, and to mako
a few suggestions that may possibly
aid your readers to ar understanding
Of the reasons for high taxes, and tho
methods THAI will be effective in get.
ting back to a basis where taxation
is no longer a menace to the prosper
ity and development CT our county
In the minds Of some of our citi-
Gems, men who are ordinarily just and
conservative, there is deep rooted
impression thai doubtless is the re-
suit Of, or at least fostered by state.
ments of certain disgruntled politi.
clans and demagogues, that the high
taxes are largely the result of graft
and extravaganza on the part of the
county officers, as case in point at
the annual meeting, proceeding the
election 'of school trustees in one Of
our country districts. The writer
was present and in discussing the
tax question with young friend, q
man CT superior judgment in most
of the affairs Ct life, asked him if
he knew and could tell me just the
cause of that very undesirable condi
ton, and without a moments hesita.
ton, he answered: Eyes. The graft
of the damn county officers" l was
shocked almost speeches., for while
knew that wild charges of extrava.
gancc and graft had been made
against the county officers, l had not
thought that anyone would take seri-
ously such ridiculous accusation, or
allege that as cause for our high
taxes. Before l could sufficiently re-
cover to attempt an answer, my
young friend had voted to authorize
the raising of sum by special tax
on the property Of his district suffi-
Gent to insure levy of fifteen mills
the limit allowed by law A burden
in and of itself practically twice as
heavy as was imposed for state,
county and special school, and all
other purposes in the year 1909. br Pre-
viOus to that time, when low taxes
prevailed. Did my young friend know
when he voted to authorize that levy
that he was voting to lay burden on
the property of his district six fold
greater than the county commission.
ers would levy for the current ex-
pense fund of the county? Such, in.
deed, was the case. Fifteen mills
against two and five terths mills is
the ratio; and out of the two and
five-tenths, the salaries and expenses
Ut the county officers, the court ex-
pense and the equipments for all tho
offices is paid,and in the last year the
levy was ample and was more than
was needed for that purpose.
Without a. doubt tho special school
tax is the greatest cause of high
taxes. While property was assessed
at nominal valuation, and the limit
of assessment was restricted, as it
always has been to fifteen mills, we
did not have ,the power to impose
such burden upon ourselves. And
even after the extraordinary session Of
the legislature had passed their bill
listing all property at full cash value.
they based levy on forty per cent OF
that amount, and on that forty per
cent, fifteen mills was still retained
as the limit, and was sufficient re-
striction to keep within reasonable
bounds. But when the twelfth ses-
sion passed the new revenue law
and required us to base our levy on
the full cash value and still retain
SAAN AAASSSA AAlAA llAlll, IL at once
increased the districts power to tax
themselves two and one-half fold.
which many of them promptly took ad.
vantage Of, and the following is
statement of just how and to what
funds and uses tax payer paid 500
in such a district:
Total paid to State, all funds $1O.13
Total paid to County Current
Expense fund :. :. 9.37
Total paid to County Road and
Bridge fund .... -. >. 11.2S
Total paid to County General
School fund 80. :. 5.64
Total paid to County Warrant
Redemption fund :. $3.50. 5.64
Total paid to Interest and
Sinking Bond fund 49,. "a
Total paid to Agricultural fund 81
Total paid to Special School