Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-10
Segregation Promises Lower Taxes

Segregation Promises Lower Taxes
M ANY citizens OF Virginia pay too much
lVA more than their fair share--in taxes.
This is generally agreed. Then how is the
burden to be equalized and lightened?
Opinions differ, but 1t seems to US that no
method will prove so certain as partial segre-
CATION. Partial segregation has the one in
comparable merit OF ending the complicated
and uneconomic partnership of State and
localities in real estate and personal property
taxes. 1t will give each community the
privilege of working out its own salvation
by fixing for itself the levies on the prin-
cipal objects OF taxation.
Only by comparison of figures is it pos
sible to see what a boon this Is. All values
have risen in Virginia, but in nothing has the
Increase been SO marked as In tangible per-
sonal property and real estate. Whereas
twenty years ago farm lands IN Virginia were
sadly cheap, they now begin to command
prices that compare favorably with those OF
tho best agricultural districts in the country
Likewise. the amount OF taxes paid into the
State Treasury in the past decade has in
creased enormously-but the rate OF taxation
has not gone down. Nor is 1t probable that
real estate and personal property rates will
decrease SO long as the State shares these
taxes; no matter how much money flows
into the treasury, means will always be
found to spend it. New departments will
be created or demands which have gone un-
heard will be satisfied
In 1903 the horses in Virginia were worth
$i2,663713; the cattle, $7,971,0O5; sheep
sT12.63r; hogs, s1,15S,G72. In 1905 the
value of horses had risen to $16,41O,746; cat
tie to sS.So1,441; sheep to sseS,5sO, and
hogs to $1,l49,15G. In 1913 horses were
worth s26,7S4,96s; cattle, sl2,o7o,s66;
sheep, s1,O01,411. and hogs, s1,5S4,227 III
other words, within the short space Of ten
years, horses, cattle and sheep had nearly
doubled in combined value
The figures for land values are even more
striking. IN 1908 real estate in Virginia
was worth $336,627.97S and personal prop
erty taxes. including real estate, amounted
to S2.247,S0714. In 1906 real estate values
came to $37S,977,O19, and personal prop
erty taxes yielded $2,554,S79.3o. by 1918
real estate had risen to s521,0G5,297 and
personal property taxes to s4144,2i3.57.
The import Of these statistics is evident
II property continues to increase in value a
1t has in the past-and there seems no rea-
son why it should not--the amount OF money
raised by taxation on real estate and personal
property Will be 30 great that a marked de-
crease in the rate Of taxation should be ex-
pected. City and town governments cost
little more to run in prosperous than in poor
communities; there is no reason why advance
in real estate should mean any marked adj
vance in the cost OF local administration
With the State it is different. The State,
under existing conditions, will spend all the
money it can get. because the money comes
to it in an mpersonal way. 1t is not in
touch with the taxpayers in the same way
that local governments are. If the people
of Virginia wish substantial decrease in
their tax burdens, the way to get 1t is to
limit the State primarily to certain sources
OF revenue and turn over to the communities
the entire control of real estate and tangible
personal property.