The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-31
GREATEST GAIN

Continued from Page One.l
commission, the state will raise within
a. few dollars of the four million maxi
mum of direct taxation as fixed for
this year by act of the 1917 legisla-
ture. The levy is rs of a mill less
than a year ago.
Last year under the levy of las
mills, the state raised $4,459,145 in
direct taxes from the valuation of
s3,075, 273,G2s. This year with a. val
uation of SO, s,672,777, the state will
raise S3,999,S47 with a levy of III
mills.
The big increase in personal proper
ty valuations is due to enormous in
crease in returns from Butler. Cowley,
Greenwood, Sedgwfck, Woodson and
other counties affected by the oil de-
velopment. Heavy increases in the
number and value of livestock added
greatly to the increase in personal
property values in t. rural districts.
Grains held by the farmers under the
present high prices, also added several
million dollars to the new personal
property valuations.
Secretary Smiths Explanation.
In a letter transmitting the new
levy and property valuations to county
clerks, Clarence Smith, SECRETARY of
the state commission, said:
Attached hereto is the certificate of the
secretary of the tax commission showing
the equalization of the assessment of your
county after a careful study made of the
assessments of all counties Of the state,
the endeavor having been to equalize the
assessments of all counties in a rela-
lively equal manner
The state equalization as made shows
that farm lands, exclusive of improvements,
have been increased since the last preced-
ing assessment by amounts as follows:
Increases by the local officers In OIL
counties, $14, 526,225; additional increases
by the state board in As counties, $58,22S,-
69G; total increase, $132, I54.921.
The improvements on lands outside of
cities have been increased in the assess
ment by the sum of s., Dos, 937.
Lots and improvements in cities hive
been increased $24, $50, T27.
All personal property assessed by the
local authorities as equalized by this board,
after changes have been made by the
decision of appeals, shows an increase
of 69,446,91S.
The increase in the assessment of public
service corporation property by the state
board is $95375S6.
The increases above suggested show that
the assessment for 1913 equalized state
wide is $500, 149, in excess of the state
equalization of 1917. This is a large in
crease, and the tax commission wishes to
again urge all officers who have to do
with fixing tax levies for the year 1918 to
not use the increased values in order to
raise for the funds of the taxing districts
amounts in excess Of those raised last year,
except in cases where such an Increased
fund is Indispensable because of an I'M
avoidable need for more money in some
particular fund in order to administer the
affairs of such taxing district In the most
1t Is again suggested that levies should
be reduced where possible in proportion to
the increase in value.
The state has established a precedent.
Last year there was levied for state pur-
poses $4,459,145; this year only S3,999,S47
is levied.
Thus the amount levied for the general
revenue fund for the state this year is
$3.50 29S less than was levied last year.
The state tax rate Of levy last year was
.OO145: this year it is .00117.
In this time of emergency financial pres
sure up on all members of the community
because of the necessity of supporting the
general government in its participation in
the unprecedented world war now waging,
it is of the utmost Importance that public
expenditures shall be unlimited to the
fullest extent possible, due attention being
given to the exigencies of the public
service
You are requested to kindly present this
letter to the board of county commission
ers of your county and to request the
board on behalf of the public to urge upon
ali tax Ievying officers the desirability OF
observing the foregoing suggestions.