The Detroit times., 1915-12-04
State Commission Has
Staff of 20 Men In
Detroit
ARE REAL GUM
SHOE ARTISTS
Assessors Preparing
To Fight Expected
Boost i'm Values

A hint that the state tax commits.
sion intends to boost the assessed
valuation OF Detroit from S55s,g4S,-
$50 10 S925,O00. 900 is worrying the
city assessors.
! The state tax commission has had
a stan OF expert assessors at work
In the city for about a year under
the direction of Fred Twist A re-
assessment OF the entire city is be-
ing made on a cash value" which
is interpreted ID mean the usual
selling price. IL is probable that
!: will take the state commission an
other year TO complete its assess
ment work in Detroit The 1917
taxes will likely be raised on the
increased valuation.
Chief Clerk John J. Scott, OF the
assessors office. points out that a
63 per cent increase. which II is be-
will mean that the present land
values on the assessors books.
amounting TO s179.0S0.4l0. will have
to be tripled. since the assessed val
uation of buildings decreases rather
than increases from year 10 year.
The assessors claim that the pres
ent assessment on Detroit property
and buildings is made on a cash
Ina ha nj mi
that they have no rule % thumb to
follow in computing their assessment
figures. Each assessor takes dis
trict, and he values the property
comparative worth OF property ana
buildings. What they strive for Is
to obtain an equitable assessment,
IL that is possible. With an equita
bic assessment the valuations bal
ance the tax rate, low valuation
means a correspondingly high tax
rate, and vice versa In ratio, the
amont paid by the property owner
remains the same. This basis OF
reasoning also applies TO the WORK
that the state tax commission Is do
ing, only with a greatly increased
valuation the amount OF state taxes
the Detroit property will pay Will
be increased.
Chief Clerk Scott, OF the Asses
sors' Office, is making comparative
study of the increases made by the
state commission In other countries
for the purpose of finding out IL De
troit in Wayno county Is being dis
criminated against. He wants to
verify for the satisfaction OF the
board OF assessors the recent state
ment made by the tax commission
and there is no intention of making
Detroit the goat
I'm 1913 the state commission
made ali investigation and found
that the assessed valuation OF De
troit was on an so per cent basis, the
highest OF any municipality in Mich
igar.r said Mr. Scott. THE beue-
factors from the general increase Is
assessed valuations are the rail-
roads. telephone and express COM
pan.es. They pay a specific tax.
Last year the amount OF their tar,
/ due 20 the increased valuation OF
assessablc property, was reduced
s1G5, 900"
When the state tax commission
completes it's work I'm Detroit and
turns, it's books over 70 the city for
transcription, the assessors Will
( challenge some OF the increases. al
though they arc frank to admit that
they will be weak in advancing argu-
inents 20 sustain their figures be-
cause Of the lack OF system in doing
he local assessment work. II IL
likely that Robert Oakman, expert
on property valuations. will again
lie retained TO defend the figures on
the city's books.
Mr.. Twist is very secretive about
the work the state commission is
doing in Detroit Mr.. Twist smoked
huge pipe. ard is very solemn In
the performance OF his duty TO the
state.
'I can't tell you thing about our
work here" he said TO a Times re-
porter. Saturday morning.
why not?" he was asked.
Mr.. Twist wiggled his eyebrows
and replied: Il am here to work,
sir, and not 10 talk You will have
TO see Mr.. Barner whan he Is in the
city"
Mr.. Barnes is chairman OF the
state tax commission. lie Is sched-
uled to talk on "cash value" assess
ments for Detroit before the Board
Of Commerce at luncheon, Dec. 8.