Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-13
Figures DisproUe Leagues
Effort to Blame Counties
And Cities for Hiqh Taxes

EIIOfCS OF many OF the ~Onpaftlodn
league papers of the state to make the
taxpayers believe that the towns and
counties of North Dakota are about
to embark on an orgie Of expenditure
in order to boost taxes with a view to
d~iscreditine the league are shown to
be deliberate at attempts at mtsrepre-
sentation BY a study of the tax laws
passed at the last session of the state
legislature.
The State Law.
Section / Of S. B.. No. 81, passed by
the legislature, and to be found on
page 17S of. the popular edition Of the
Session Laws Of 1919, reads as fol-
lows,
"For the year 1919 and 1920
the total amount of the taxes
levied for any purpose except
ments and for the maintenance
Of sinking funds in any county or
political subdivision thereof
shall not exceed by more than 10
per cent the amount that would
be produced by the levy Of the
maximum rate allowed by law
upon the assessed valuation Of
1918. provided that for road, and
school purposes the amount
levied may be 20 per cent for
1913, and 40 per cent for 1920
respectively upon the basis Of the
assessed valuation for 1913.
This law it will be noted while
placing a limit on the levy of taxes
by cities and counties places no limit
on the levy by the state, except that
provided by the constitution and for
mer laws.
City As Example.
AS a concrete instance of the way
the law will work out the city of
Grand Forks may be cited as an ex-
ample.
In 1918 the assessed valuation of
the limit set by law the city tax for
general purposes could not exceed 20
mills on each dollar of the assessed
valuation making a total OF $73,-
342.11. This limit was reached by the
city on its levy last year.
Under the law quoted above the
maximum amount then that Ear be
levied by the city for general purposes
this year is $73,342.11, plus 10 per
cent or $%so,676.32.
Higher Values.
AS regards the state levy, however,
the situation is radically different.
Under the new state law the assessed
valuation Of property in Grand Forks
city a been placed this year at
s~9,634,320, in other words nearly
equalization has completed its work
it may be even higher.
Under the law the state may lay a
tax of four mills for general pur-
poses on the new valuation, and as
much more as is needed for interest
on bonds, etc.
Double or Triple.
In 1918 the state levy was 4.3 mills
amounted to ,15.ss7.57. This year,
however, the state tax will be levied
on the new valuation, and if the rate
is the same as last yea the amount
Of the state tax to be paid from the
city of Grand Forks will be $41.427.
Rumors from Bismarck say thai
the probable rate this rear is st
mills. If this is the cas- the state tax
will be at least $33.720.
In other words while the general
city. or county tax cannot be in.
creased over 10 per cent, the state tag
being applied on he new assessed
valuation will probably be- at ieas1
100, or 200 per cent greater than las1
year.
Unlimited Power.
Furthermore under the almost un'
limited bonding power Of the state
there seems to be practically no fu-
ture limitation on the mount tc
which the tax may rise in the coming
years.
The attempt on the part \of thu
league publications to pass the bucl
to the cities and counties thus plain
ly shown to be unjustified by the
facts.