Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1916-09-08
STATE TAX LEVY
WAS REDUCED
Board of Equalization Drop
ped Rates on Electric Power
COmpanieS-GOvernor OBJ
jects, But All In Vain.

Boise, Sept. l. Tax levies for
Idaho for 1916 were reduced
S155, 900 over 1915 by the state
board of equalization when it
made up the schedules for the
year, most of the saving being
made in the general tax levy,
which was whitfield down from
$500. 900 for 1915 to $565, 900 for
1916. The reductions were an
nounced after the board had cut
down valuations of the main lines
of the principal railroads in the
Panhandle country by 5 per cent
in keeping with general reduc-
tions made on reality and timber
values in northern Idaho.
Levies for the general interest
and sinking fund and the public
building tax levy were increased
by $25, 900 to take care of bonds
and interest to be met.
In 1915 the board raised $780,
OBJ, 81 through the total tax levy
by counties. This year they will
raise but $685., 1000. The board in
1916 raised 100000. The saving
in taxes results from a decrease
in funds needed for the running
expenses of the state govern
ment.
In fixing the valuations of the
railroad lines of the state the
board clipped the assessments of
the Great Northern, the Milwau-
kee the Northern Pacific and
some Oregon Shortline branches,
but made no reductions on the
main line of the Short Line. Re-
ductions were made only on the
main lines of the big roads in the
north end of the state, all of
which were fixed at 5 per cent.
Last year the valuation of the
Northern Pacifc's main line was
fixed at SIS, 426, 600; the main line
of the Great Northern was given
a valuation of SIS, 167, 500; and the
Milwaukee's main line was valued
at 5,863,OOO
The valuation of the Twin Falls
branch of the Oregon Short Line
was reduced $4,000 a mile. The
North Side branch was reduced
SIS, 900 mile, while the valuation
of the Snake belt line was in
creased 81, 900 mile. The valu-
alton of the Yellowstone branch
was fixed at $38, 900 a mile from
Idaho Falls to Ashton, and from
Ashton to Yellowstone park at
SIS, 900 a mile. In the past it had
been customary to place the valu-
alton of that branch at $25, 1000 a
mile for its entire length.
Electric current and trans
mission power companies in the
state of Idaho were given sub
stantial reductions in their valu-
ations in a majority of cases.
They range from 10 to 25 per
cent. The Washington Water
Power company of Spokane was
given a 20 per cent cut in valu-
alton, the board slicing off $780,
900 at one stroke. On the other
hand the Utah Light & Power
company was given a 10 per cent
increase, a total of 1915. 600.
The other noticeable increase was
given the Thousand Springs
Power company, or 20 per cent.
Out of eight of the larger opera
ting hydro-electric companies in
the state, six were given reduc.
tions in valuations and two in,
creases. Over a half million
dollars was the cut in the valu.
ations of the six power companies
reduced and over a quarter of g
million constituted the increases.
The increases in valuations as
set by the board are as follows
Utah Light & Power company
raised 10 per cent; Thousand
Springs Power Co. increased
On nor cont The rodr1ofions cat