West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-11-25
Look Mt Your Tax Tickets

cd Its imagination TO conjure up reas-
ons why the state property tax has
been so largely increased. Its final
conclusion is that the Democrats An
the last legislature and the prohibi-
ton laws are the two elements impos-
ing the great burden OF present state
taxation upon the people. The Intel
igencer may guess again. But first
we invite every taxpayer. whether he
lives in Marion county or any other
county in West Virginia, TO look at his
tax tickets.
When he does he will find that upon
the same property his taxes have I'm
almost every case been doubled, and
In most cases trebled. since the new
TAX laws went into effect. To illus
trate the effects OF the new methods
OF taxation, prominent citizen OF
Marion county cites the fact that in
1904. the last year of taxation under
the old method. he paid on property in
this county. sl6S.00: the year 1915.
he Is called upon to pay on exactly
the same property $40S.00. This is
about the ordinary increase TO which
the taxpayers of Marion county have
been subjected. IL is the same I'm
Harrison county, Ohio and every 9th
er county in the state. II the tax-
payers have any doubt on this sub
ject Just let them look at their tax
tickets.
The 1ntelligencer was one of tho
principal advocates OF the new tax
laws. IL announced to the public I'm
giaring head lines and big type that
when the new tax laws were adopted
state taxation on property would be
abolished. II iterated and reiterated
this statement and denounced as lara
all who presumed to question it's ac-
curacy.
The new method. we're adopted
thanks TO the deception practiced up-
on the voters by such statements. Has
state taxation been wiped out? Look
at your tax tickets.
The present valuation OF property
IN West Virginia OF all kinds is about
N'3O0.o0O.000. Under the new system
the total valuations OF all kinds Of
property have been increased nearly
seven times. Let us say six times To
be within limits that are indisputabIe
Under the old laws the levy for state
school purposes was never above 35
cents on the hundred dollars.
Under the present laws the state
and state school tax is fourteen cents
on the hundred dollars.
s200,000.000 of taxable values on a
levy of 35 cents produces 500. 900 OF
revenue.
.SO0.00O,00 OF taxable values on
a levy OF fourteen cents on the hum
dred dollars valuation produces over
N.SO0.000 of revenue.
1t does not. therefore, take much OF
an arithmetician to figure that the tax
payers OF West Virginia are now nav
ing nearly three times as much direct
state tax on property as they paid be-
fore the adoption OF the new tax laws
which were to abolish entirely all
state taxes. Look at your tax tickets.
But this direct state tax is not the
only way In which your state tax has
been increased. A large part OF the
criminal charges, formerly paid by
the state under the 35 cent levy. ia
now forced back on the counties and
the state relieved of the burden. A
large part OF the expenses OF humane
and charitable institutions, formerly
borne by the state. is now paid by the
counties. number of other state
charges have been laid upon the backs
OF the taxpayers in the counties.
These various charges will probably
amount to between three and four
hundred thousand dollars annually
and they swell your county taxes
though the state gets the benefit OF this
vast sum in lessening former state
burdens. Look at your tax tickets
Fairmont Times.