Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-05-19
Farm Average Only.


George Wheatley, the new member
vi the board of equalizers, asked DR..
Mathis is the average valuations quot
ed included city property, suggesting
that if this were the case, the aver
age for Sumter county would be
much higher in proportion than other
counties in the list. Dr. Mathis re-
piled that the figures included only
farm land values.
The question of the proper percent
age of actual value of the property to
take as basis was discussed.
Il am sure" said DR.. Mathis, who
has served seven years on the equali-
cation board that not per cent. of
the property in the county is returned
strictly according to the terms of the
law, which requires, under oath,
statement of the full or actual value
of the property returned No decis-
ion was reached on this point.
The question of reaching the invis-
ible property was touched upon.
Not per cent. of the notes held
in this county are returned for taxa
tion," said Dr. Mathis, and he pointed
out that under the law anad custom it
was impossible to get at them, as the
notes are usually made after Jan. and
collected before the end of the year
He said he had suggested to the state
tax commissioner a county stamp tax
on notes to make them collectible in
court. The failure of citizens also to
return money in bank for taxation
was mentioned, with methods for dis
covering deposits.
Ray Wants Increase.
Chairman Neill Ray, of the board of
commissioners, asserted that he want
ed to see a bigger tax valuation for
Sumter county, with smaller tax
rate, but he admitted that difficulty
lay in the way in the unjust proportion |
of state taxes that the county would
be paying under such an arrange
ment. He declared, however, that |
Sumter county was better county |
than any of those mentioned in the |
lists which had been read, and that
the land ought to be returned at
considerably higher average.
I'VE all know our land is worth
more than any of their land said he,
"and there is no use for us to talk
Aabout anything else. We know that
Sumter county land is WORTH on an
average twice as much as Schley
county land, and ought to be returned
at twice as much or more"
R. S. Oliver, of the county commits
sion declared himself for higher val
uations. 1--WE see our state struggling
along with hardly enough money to
care for her institutions and always
in a bad way financially There is
only one explanation-the counties are +
not paying enough taxes l think the
question before us now is Shall Sum-
ter county do wrong in making her
returns. simply because the neighbor-
ing counties do wrong" [ would like
to see Sumter countys' property re-
turned at what it should be, regard
less of the other counties.
Mr.. Wheatley asked what would be
the boards attitude in case the equal
izers found merchant returning 60
per cent. of the value of his stock and
farmer returning 10 per cent. of the
value Of his land. The board did not
state its attitude. A number of other
problems of tax equalization and as
scssment were discussed, and the com
missioners instructed the equalizers to
go ahead and do their best, giving
values a substantial boost.
Following the conference the equal
izers organized and began work,
which will last several weeks.