Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-05-03
SUGGESTIONS ON TAXATION
County Assessor of Incomes Davis
Offers His Services

To TAX PAYERS OF VERNON COUNTY: The
assessment season has just started and in q few
days the assessor viii be along to see you. 1t is
in regard to this annual visit that l wish 10 ad-
dress you.
The law says that property shall be assessed at
full value and every assessor in Vernon county
has been sent into the field with instructions to
assess according to law. You as law abiding cit
liens. should not ask him to violate the oath OF
office he took when he started out to assess Many
of you may think il is bad law and should not
be obeyed: but that is wrong. II It u a bad law.
it should b e repealed. not ignored However,
the writer thinks It is very good law and one
that will work injustice TO no one. II is very
common idea among the people that high assess
ment creates high taxes. and never realized I'M
til recently. how many people have that idea firm
y grounded IN their thoughts. II is an easy mat
ter to show thinking person that high assess
ment has nothing to Dc with the amount OF tax
collected. would not attempt 70 do so IN letter
but few moments in conversation or short talk
will convince the average tax payer II Is simply
a matter of reco'd that is accessible TO any one
who wishes to dig it out L is SO much easier.
though 70 have some one tell US these things than
to look them ur.
With that thought in mind. did you ever stop to
think that perhaps the one who tells you these
things had not looked them up himself. AT one
time was under the impression that many OF the
people who contended that the size of the assess
ment affected the taxes were not sincere. That
they had an ak to grind, perhaps. Thought this
because the thing was so simple 20 me. IL had
not occurred to me that having this work on my
mind for eight months out Of the year was IN a
position 70 unQeretAn0 the factH DetleF NDdb
who had no chance to study II at all This has
been brought home TO me very forcibly IN the last
few days by coming in contact with two men OF
good Judgment men thoroughly honest in action
and in purpose. who really thought that 70 raise
the assessment would raise the taxes, In one
| case il took six groups of figures taken frcm the
| tax and assessment roll and in the other about
two minutes Of explanation verbally. 10 convince
| these men that they had been iaboring under a
mieappre hension for years. These two cases have
opened my eyes to a situation that is much worse
than had any idea Of. that have been studying
how the condition might be bettered IL not entire
Iy cured. II seems to me that It might ~ Helped
a great deal BY little meetings at town halls and
o her place at which might address you the
subject and show you that you have the wrong
idea altogether
| cannot see how people can believe that an
assessor Of incomes should wish 70 raise the taxes
of any one, let alone whole county full OF tax
payers but il is evident to that they do
think and in order to try and remove that inn
preston will address the people In any district
where they desire it. viii respond TO a call from
town. city or village.
! cannot begin 70 say in this article what
would like 10 say 70 you the subject IL is a
| broad one and more could be brought out in ten
minute address with figures taken from your tax
| and assessment rolls. than could tell you q
fult page of a newspaper
! II the majority Of the people knew what their
assessor Of incomes was eDdeavorin9 to do in the
az sesarlent work they would be with him heart
and SOL, There are some wbo would not be with
me but would be because they might have more
| tax to pay The majority would be benefited.
| ask ycu 10 give your assessor your moral support
! He needs il. Your very truly,
| JOHN L. DAVIS, Assessor of Incomes.