The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-08-08
Auditor TOwnes Saws
Assessment Too High

The following letter was written by
Auditor Townes to the State Tax Com
mission before he received the notice
to appear before the governor, and
it makes very interesting reading:
Pickens, S. c., July 26, 1918
South Carolina Tax Commission,
Columbia, S. c..
Sirs: Will say in answer to yours of
the 10th inst that have added the 10
per cent to the mules and horses in
TINS county; also that am going to add
the III per cent to the value of land in
TINS county because ! am forced to or
suffer removal from office, although
know beyond a doubt that it is out of
proportion to adjoining countless. for
the following reasons:
First-That we have something like
l25, 600 acres of waste land in the
county that is absolutely worthless
Second-That there is more difference
in the assessed value of Greenvilc at
$9.5O and Pickens at 1922 and Ander-
son at $l2-at least there ought to be-
Pickens ought to be something like
SIS. 90 or SIS. so to be in line with them.
have talked with different parties
from these counties and they all say
there is more difference These parties
are in position to be good judges of the
relative value Of the land in the differ
ent counties.
Third That we have something like
5000 acres that will sell for $lOO per
acre; we have something like l,50O or
1000 acres that will sell for $3.50 per
acre; then we have something like
30, 600 or 10000 acres that will sell for
from $50 to $95 per acre; then we have
something like so 600 or $4,000 acres
that will sell for from $50 to $50 per
ace; then we have several thousand
acres that will sell for from SIS to $780,
then we have just thousands of acres,
that will sell for only 50 to $l5 per
acre. Therefore | am honest in my
belief that the actual average selling
value of lands in this county would not
go over $l5 per acre, and don't be-
lievc it would go very much over $l2.
There are plenty Of others in this
county who will tell you the same thing.
F'ohrth-T'he increase is absolutely
useless, as the mills the legislature
fixed (9@) would raise enough mon
ley for state taxes The Hcountv
would have plenty also The people of
Plckens county are willing to pay thoir
pro rata share Of taxes, but they are
not willing to pay more than their
part. They think this raise is unjust
and am only doing my duty in trying
to get it adjusted in satisfactory man
ner as they are expecting me to fight
1t out for them. There will be just lots
of people in the county that will FIGHT
me because they think am the cause
OF tins raise. You could put on more
mills easier than you could raise their
property.
Fifth What are you going to do with
the 3 mills constitution school and the
| special school tax? When you try to
vote off the special levy you are going
to get things in a mess sure enough
get things started that it will take
years to overcome. Ruin lots of schools.
Sixth You haven't shown by facts
and figures why Pickens county should
be assessed at 1922. ] sent the county
chairman the notice the next day after
receiving it. guess he oversight his
rights.
After reading these facts if you still
think the land ought to be assessed at
$8 % let me know and will nut it on.
am leaving it to you.
Respectfully,
! II. A. ToWNES,
Auditor Pickens County.