The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-08-13
Later
COMMISSIONER ROGERS
DEFENDS BOARDS ACTION

Editor Star: Mr.. Fort said in his
last letter: at does look like he CD
could point out some legal points in
refutation of his acts" Now, l am
not a lawyer like Mr.. Fort is. | only
speak in vindication of the board of
county commissioners and the tax as
sessoI. Section % of Chapter 1896,
Laws of Florida, specifically provides
for the assessment rolls to be COM
pleted by the first Monday in July.
Then the law says in the same sec
ton: Provided, that the county COM
missioners of any county may if they
deem it necessary extend the time for
the completion of the assessment
rolls" etc. The same section of law
authorizes the county commissioners
to meet on the first Monday in August
or September to hear complaints.
Section "a gives the board the power
to raise or lower the valuations fixed
by the assessor on real or personal
property. Section 26 of the same chap
ter of law says: "In case the county
assessor of taxes neglects to assess
the property of any county previous
to the first Monday in August mot
July) it shall be the duty of the coun-
ty commissioners to direct the clerk
of the circuit court to make or COM
pile the assessment" The law fur
ther says, "Such assessments shall be
legal" Needless to quote further.
The law is plain and intends to make
every man pay his just proportion of
taxes. The board and the assessor
have been laboring to this end. If the
assessor with the information and
cooperation given him by the board
can put on the tax books enough
property that has not before been on
the tax books to hold down the county
millage to what it has been we will
have done good work for the county.
The school board is cooperating with
US to this end. The last legislature,
of which Mr.. Fort was a member,
made appropriations that forced the
board to levy four mills tax for the
state and half-mill tax for a widows
pension to assist the poor white and
colored widows of the county to send
their children to school. Mr.. Fort said
in his last letter: "Now let them tam
per illegally with my property and !
will show them i have redress in the
courts" He has publicly said that
what the assessor and the board have
done about the assessment of taxes
since the first of July has been illegal
Now l have never accused him of be-
ing an obstructionist, but for him to
threaten the board with a lawsuit, if
his assessments are changed, makes
him an obstructionist, and if all the
| taxpayers of the county will do as he
threatens to do, every school house in
Marion county will be closed next year
for the need of taxes to run the
schools, the courthouse will be closed
and crime will run rampant because
the officers of the law will have nc
funds to feed their families and will
be forced to get other jobs, the pub
lie roads will fall back to the old sys-
tenn and never be worked. / am glad
to believe, however, that his policy
will not be carried out and conditions
will continue with all true and good
citizens paying their taxes as ever
The people certainly have been made
wise by this controversy, and think
have enough, but he began the fight
and / can hold out longer if he desires
mean nothing personal in this.
o. H. Rogers.