The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-07-30
ANOTHER REPLY FROM
COMMISSIONER ROGERS

Editor Star: In reply to Mr.. Forts
last letter in the Star, he tries to make
it a question of veracity between he
Such is not the case. In his unkind
and uncalled for criticism of the
board of county commissioners in his
first letter he said the board was as
Stunning the functions of the tax as
SCISSOR. This assertion is untrue. He
also said, "Now their reason for as
Stunning this function is, they say the
personal property of the county is I'M
der assessed" This is not true, but
to the contrary. Very much of it is not
on the tax books at all. He also said
"they want more money" l said this
was not true as the one object of the
assessor and the board is to get on the
tax books the personal property of
the county that never has before been
assessed. 1t is as much the duty of
one man to pay taxes on his property
as another and because a large num-
Der of property owners in the county
will not give in their personal proper
ty to the, assessor, it makes it hard
ship on those who do give in their
taxes to have to pay for those that
do not. The returns in the assessors
Office show that many people have
made no returns for several years and
we know many of them have more
personal property than is assessed to
them. The law requires the county
commissioners to see that all property
is assessed. According to Mr.. Forts
construction of the law the commits
sioners could not do this, for the rea-
son they are not supposed to know
who is assessed until July 1st. Then
he says their duty is to equalize what
is assessed. Suppose from sickness
or any cause the tax assessor should
have on the tax books on July 1st only
half the names of the tax payers of
the county. Then, according to Mr..
Forts construction of the law, the
board must equalize the value of one
half the taxpayers and have them car
ry the burdens of all the people. If I
had been a member of the county
commissioners for IL or IA years, I
would know this would not be right.
AS it is / have been a member but six
months and l don't believe it would
be right. The law requires property to
be assessed at full value, but Tax As
SCISSOR Aver agreed with other assess
ors of the state to assess the property
on a fifty per cent value basis. The
board will stand by him and he is hon.
estly and faithfully working to get
the property on the tax books at that
rate and very much less in some re-
spects. Can any reasonable man OBJ
ject to this? If the assessor and the
present board succeed in holding down
the millage by getting property or
the tax books that never has been
put on them, we will accomplish more
good in six months than Mr.. Fort die
in his IA years. In conclusion, think
it comes of little bad grace in Mr.
Fort to go as a member to the legis.
lature and help to raise the state ta1
from eight to over twelve mills, anC
| then come back as the Moses of the
county and warn the people against
paying the state tax that he had help
ed to put on them. / leave it entirely
with Mr.. Fort as to whether this cor
respondence between US stops or not
He cast the first stone without prov
ocation. l shall try to take care Of
myself when wrongfully accused. The
assessor and the board are working
together as one man for the Creates
good to the greatest number of the
taxpayers. o. FL. Rogers.