South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-20
NE W TAX SYSTEM
IS A NECESSITY
State Commissioners Figures
Reveal Great Discrepancies
in Government Cost.

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. Dec. 20
The necessity for a complete over
hauling of Indiana's tax system. in
Guiding the problems of the state.
counties and municipalities, is
brought out by figures just compiled
by the state board Of tax commits
sioners. These figures show great
discrepancies in the cost Of govern
ment in the different counties, town
ships, towns and cities.
II is pointed out also that the
heavier increases in government
costs everywhere probably have not
Yet been reached and it is known
that in some of the units in the state
tax rate increases. or similar relief.
already has been decided on. For
example. the city Of Indianapolis is
shown as having the lowest tax rate
Of any city in the state, yet increases
in cost OF municipal operation can
not be met during the coming year
without some very definite relief
here, officials have said. The elm
ination of revenues from saloon IL
censes also has been another factor
in the rapidly mounting municipal
tax rates, and unless some sort of
solution TO the difficulty comes. tax
rates will be out of all proportion
to interest rates. as they are now
In many instances.
Hammond Heads List.
Hammond heads the 98 cities Of
the state in its high tax rate. with
$3.50 levied against cach 500 worth
of assessed property. Indianapolis
is the lowest in tax rate. with S2S2
on each s100 out this rate must be
| Increased iD some manner immedi-
ately, city officials know. Lebanon.
the home of Strange y. Cragun. Il
member Of the state tax board. has
the next lowest tax rate in the state.
With S2.S6 on each S100.
Converse, Iud., has the highest
tax rate of the 400 towns in the
state. with S6OS on each 500.
Jonesville has the lowest tax rate.
with $1.74, among the towns.
The average total tax rates of all
cities, towns and townships, in each
of the counties in 1918. shows Nor
gan county having the highest aver
age rate. $3.29S on each 500. Shell
by county has the lowest average
rate, $2.214. The Marion county rate
IS $2.49S.
Average Tax Levics.
The average tax levies in Indiana
follow:
1915. 1916 1917 1918.
total levies
Of all cities,
towns and
townships Of
state .....s. .SUo S&.9&S S2.JjS 5000
. Average tax
counties OF
state ....... ISIS Z.J45 1000 ..0tE
3. Average to-
tai tax levy
Of Of state IA cities .i.. 1854 o-o4s 4oss Ass
T. Average to-
tai tax levy
If IF state sta town" '.. 1851 a4s7 a.57 1913
.. Average to-
tai tax levy
Of all town
ships in
state ....... --foO -.0a --OoS -.ot1
The following table shows the
average total tax rates of all cities,
towns and townships in each of the
counties in the 18th district in 1918,
for taxes due and payable in 1919.
The figures are based on 800 of
valuation, and are. given with the
county having the highest average
total tax levy first, followed by tho
next highest and so on 10 the lowest
the position of honor being at the
bottom of the table, where the lower
rates prevail.
Average Total Rates.
Fulton ....... SO. t52 Laporte ...... 2.G63
st Joseph -. 2S99 Kosciusko -. 2.JSl
Elkhart ...... 2.T49
Total Leyies in Towns.
The total tax levies for the towns
in the 18th congressional district oil
the state in 1918, for taxes due and /
payable in 1919, are as follows /
those with the highest total levies |
being named first. and so on |
through the list TO the lowest. which /
is the place of honor:
Knox .$5.6SI Bourbon ...... 4.03
Culver ........ 5-06I \. Liberty -. 3.5S
Winamac $50. 800 Lakeville 800. 3.36 /