Omaha daily bee., 1915-10-28
Nebraska
TAX INEQUALITIES
GLARING IN STATE
Secretary Bernecker of Assessment
Board Gives Figures to Indicate
Condition in Nebraska.
HOW DIFFERENT VALUES VARY
CFrom a staff Correspondent

(From a Staff Correspondent
LINCOLN oct 2.-(Special THE in
equality of taxation, as brought out by
the report of Secretary Bernecker of the
State Board OF Assessment indicates that
the sooner the legislature OF the state
provides some better method for assess
ing property the better It will be for the
state.
Lands and improvements are assessed
at $255, ,219, go, an average of S6O6 per acre.
While there is much land in the state
not adapted to agriculture, stilr assess
ment of land on an average of s6.06 per
acre is not very good advertisement for
the state. On the idea that It is assessed
for one-fifth value this would only bring
;, the land valuation on an average of 5000
per acre.
The highest valuation Of any county is
given to York. where the land is valued
on an average Of s1629 per acre. The low
est is given to Thomas, which is as
sessed at only So cents per acre.
Not Equally Divided.
There is considerable variation in the
assessment of lots and improvements
thereon. In many instances It would
seem that the valuation of this property
is not very fairly divided The whole
valuation is placed at S7S 4SO,521, an aver
age of only s129 to the lot. Douglas
county lots are placed at valuation for
taxation of s37545 per lot, Lancaster
county lots at $1s2Os. Dodge at s9O.7S;
Gage at $42.sO, Hall at 1866. Platte at
S144.63 York at $146O5, Adams at $ll0.2l.
Lots and improvements in Adams county,
which has Hastings within its borders,
are assessed at an average of $1lO.2l,
while in Boone county, where the largest
town is only about 1,5OO. lots and i'm
provements thereon are assessed at S124Sl
more than the Adams county lots. In
Cass county lots are assessed but $50 IS
while in Cunning county they are place al
$11990. In Garfield county, where there
are no towns having populatio nor as
high as 1000 people, lots and improve
ments are placed at S126.20, while in Gage
county, one of the best improved counties
in the state, lots and improvements are
> but $42sO
b, Horse Values Vary.
q There are 90S, ,965 horses in Nebraska,
valued at S12,74OS76, an average of $l41C
per hose, or q real valuation of SO5O fol
each animal on an average. However, the
value appearsto be considerably different
in each county, horses in Burt county
being valued the highest for taxation
$19.6J, while in Thomas county they ore
valued at but $7.H each. In some Of the
counties where the raising of high-bred
horses is indulged in the average does
not appear to be very much higher thar
in counties where there is not much at
tention paid to the business.
There are 1O5,3S1 mules in the state
which are assessed at s.. 1.S99.i76. an aver
nge valuation for taxation purposes o.
S174 per animal. The highest assessment
is in Burt county, where the long-eaiet
animals are averaged at $24.2S each, whil'
the lowest average is in Hooker county
where the valuation is given at s.
There are 2,811, ,4SO cattle in the state
valued for taxation at s14,1 .3Os, or s6.1
per head. This probably includes all ages
The average valuation is the highest IL
Burt county, $9O5. while the lowest is IL
Grant county, $3.50.
Automobile Valuations.
The assessment Of automobiles IS in
teresting, in that it shows that the aver
age assessment on each machine Is bu
S7S, or on the one-fifth method, actua
valuation of but 1856. The highest priceC
automobiles are to be found in kno,
county, where they are assessed at $lS
each. The lowest assessment is found IL
I, Holt county, where the average assess
ment is $40. One county, Grant, reported
ro automobiles for assessment. The tota
numte er given in for assessment in tn
state is A, 1881, although numbers issued b!
The secretary of state at thetiue of tn
assessment ran up about $1,000. Th'
machines are given total valuation o
S. 22O,55S
Douglas county automobiles are as
sessed at So each, Lancaster at SlO2
Docge at $7S Gage at $65. Hall at $40 ant
Nuckolls at Sill.