The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-31
Property Values Now Are
Nearly Billions Here.
STATE MUST RAISE q MILLIONS
This Amount Needed Under the
Levy for This Year.
Probable That Taxes Will In
crease One-Tenth Mill.

Assessed valuation of Kansas prop
erty-both real and personal-has in
creased approximately $s6,602,Ssz
over 1915, bringing the property valu-
alton of the state to s2.ss1,22S,9s2,
to a statement today by the
state tax commission. 1t is probable
that the state tax levy will this year
go to 1.35 mills. an increase of one
tenth of a mill over last year and an
increase of Is mills over 1914, when
the state valuation was $176. .41s,ssO
below the 1916 showing. Virtually
four million dollars must be raised by
the state under the 1916 leavy.
Reports today by the state tax COM
mission show that increases in real
estate valuations have been made by
the state board of equalization. In
addition to the arbitrary increases, To-
cal assessors returned increases in
nearly fifty more OF the LOO counties
of the state. The state tax commits
zion, sitting as a board of equalization.
increased unimproved farm LANDS in
Shawnee county per cent. The in
crease means a boost of $S28,1T6 in
Shawnee county farm valuations. The
greatest increase by the state board
was in Sedgwick county, which was
compelled to meet an increase of $3,-
769,775 in the assessors returns
Both unimproved farm lands and i'm
proved Wichita property were boosted.
Levy Will Go Up.
With an increase of more than ITS
million dollars in property valuations
in two years. Kansas must this year
meet another increase in the tax levy,
regardless of the recent years of
preaching of economy, efficiency and
business administration before the
Kansas voters Both the valuation
and levy will go up this year, was the
admission today in offices of the COM
mission.
During the years 1s12-13-14, the
state levy remained stationary at 1.20
mills. AT that time the state prop
erty valuation hung languidly over the
$2,800,000,000 mark. Now the valua-
ton is three billion dollars in round
figures.
In 1s14-the last year of the 1.2o
mill levy-Che assessed valuation was
S2.804, ,S10,092. In 1915 the state made
a gain OF $79,s16, sos in it's valuation.
That year the valuation went to $2,-
S4.626,600. That same year the levy
was increased to 1.25 mills on the
dollar valuation. This year with an
increase of approximately 6,6O2,3Se
in valuations, or a total state valuation
Of $2.9s1, ,22S,9S2, another increase is
certain Advance dope today on the
1915 levy was to the effect that the
state would probably be required to
make an even greater increase in the
levy than in 1915. Such conditions
will probably result in an increase of
one-tenth of a mill over last year or a
levy of lbs mills.
Gave 1t Another Boost.
Local assessors this year increased
their valuation returns $57,151.392
over total returns for 1915. The state
tax commission, sitting as L state
board of equalization, added S3SS45,-
$50 to the valuations in increases in
fifty counties. These increases ranged
from s78.911 in Smith county % ,3,-
76s.775 In Sedgwick county.
Members of the state commission to-
day took a decided fall out of the ex-
listing system of assessment Ir a
formal statement the commission con-
demned the system and declared that
It is Impossible more than to approxi-
mate equality among property owners.
In no place is the personal equa-
ton of the worker more effective tor
injustice than in the assessment of
property" said the commission. so
long as dozens of men in a county are
entrusted with the work of assessment,
differing widely in opinions as to value
and each is imbued with the idea tnat
the function. he is performing is not
subject to supervision by some super
;or authority, and is to be performed
with special reference to his own con-
stitucncy instead of for the general
the inclination to favor the consti-
tuents of the particular assessing Off
GERS at the expense of the 1reaser
community and 1t is in the name OF
the state, the injustice will be done.
System is Vicious.
"An investigation such as is neces-
ssry annually, made by a board hav-
ing to equalize all property in the
state inevitably brings to the surface
all the defects of a system which is
hased upon laws that permit tas
Sinking Favoritism IN the work oi
assessment is a vice, but it is unques-
tionably inseparable from the pres
eIt system"
Increases in county valuations, as
directed by the state tax commission
may undergo some slight changes be-
fore this evening, when the levy and
total valuation for the state will be re-
ported Recommendations concerning
the 1916 leavy were today sen. to the
commission by w. z. Davis. state au-
ditor The text of these recommends
tions has not been mace public. 1t ii
generally conceded, however. that the
state must prepare for second in
crease in the tax levy
BASEBALL TODAY.
4 IL