Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-08-06
FARM VALUES TO
Be HIKED AC In,
ASSESSORS SAY
In Conciliatory State
ment They Defend Po-
sition In Controversy

The board of county tax assessors
today authorized a statement setting
forth the attitude of the members OF
that body toward the protest made
by citizens of Americus as regards
valuations placed on real estate and
other property assessed for taxation
in Sumter county, in which they say
they have "little if any differences"
with those who joined in making the
protest referred to. At the same time
the board defends it's action in plac-
ing valuations where they now are,
and in a conciliatory manner asserts
that valuations placed on high grade
farm lands are to be further increas-
ed, in the event the personnel of the
board remains unchanged, in an ef-
fort to further equalize the apparent
disparity among the two classes of
property said to exist at this time.
Speaking for the board, and in the
presence of the other members, Geo.
. D. Wheatley said:
"The board has little or no differ
ences with Mr.. Crockett or others
with reference to county values, as
compared to city values, and is will
ing to admit the valuations hitherto
applied to farm lands of high grade
have been considerably too low, and
they are still too low. We have strlv-
en- to the best of our ability to raise
these properties to the right proper
ton of valuation, but we have en-
countered difficulties in trying to at
tain that object.
First of all obstacles in our path
way, we have met with the import
ant matter of precedent, established
in valuations. Property OF this char
acter, some two years ago, appeared
upon the tax digest at a valuation OF
approximately $12 an acre, whereas
these identical properties now appear
upon the tax digest at an assessed val
nation of from $22.50 to $500, thus
showing an average increase OF ,ap,-
proximately 100 per cent IN the lasC
two years.
owe recognize, to some extent the
iustice of complaint recently made,
and whatever the result may become
we publicly express our lntentloh'
in event the personnel of the pres
ont hoard remains unchanged, 10
further increase the valuations at
nresent assessed on farm land of high
9ualitv. until a more equitable pro-
nortion to valuation becomes attained.
It NAV be said, in justice to the gen
tiemen who compose the board OF as
SCISSORS, that the average assessed
value of farm lands throughout the
county now represents considerably
higher figure than the public at pres
aent realizes. .,. 4,;u
ut has been the conviction OF this
hoard that the allurements and op-
portunities offered within the larger
Cities of Georgia and elsewhere has
worked adversely upon the vocation
of farming, to the effect that num-
hers of the best and brightest young
men of the county have left the farms
and that if the burdens already born
bv the farmers as a class are lncreas-
ed excessively and too r~Ridly', the
farmers will suffer, the rural sections
become depopulated and farm LANDS
decrease in value. Another view OF
this situation is that without the best
brains and talent of these young men
in operation upon the farms, produc-
tion, already inadequate, must 6ecome
curtailed, and therefore add addition
al burdens to the present high cost
of existence"