New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-10-28
TAX LEVIES EXCEPT
FOR SCHOOL WILL BE
LESS THAN LAST YEAR

LESS inAN LASI lean
On Monday, October Path, the Tax
payers Association issued bulletin
for publication, which shows that the
total assessed valuation of the state
will be between thirty and forty mil
lion dollars less for the year 1921 than
in the year 1890
In spite of this reduction in the
valuation, which amounts to about
one tenth on the whole state, the
levies for state purposes, for roads,
be less than last year.
The only levies which will be in
creased are the school levies. These
will probably be higher in every coun-
ty. with the single exception of San
Juan, than they were in the year 1920
The main reason why school levies
will be higher is because the levies
of the past two or three years have
been too low and the schools have
been running in debt until about half
the counties are carrying a big load
of unpaid warrants.
The budgets as now worked out
by the local school authorities and
approved by State Educational Aud
itor John Joerns and the State Tax
Commission will not take care of these
deficiencies, but will however take
care of the schools during the 1921
1922 year without any deficiencies, if
sufficient economy is used by the
school boards during that year, and
Mr.. Joerns is pretty certain to use
every possible means at his command
to see that the few careless boards,
which are but a small percentage of
the whole, do hold down to the bud
get.
The bulletin or statement of the
Taxpayers Association mentioned
above is in part as follows:
1881 Taxes"
"The tax rolls for 1921 have been
filed with the State Tax Commits
sion, and show a total assessment
of $356,379,996 as compared with
$386, ,236,6T appearing on the 1920 rolls.
This is loss of $30,O00,000. The value
of the mineral output for 1920 was
Sl6.8l0O5l and loss of at least ST.
100000 is anticipated in the net out !,
put Ndiuc iot i1<i. III iSSO, PiNap
car companies were assessed at ST.
778,565 and a half million reduction
may result for 1921. In 1920 the val /
uation upon which state tax rates
were based was $404825,253 Estim-
ating a total loss of $37 100000. the !
assessed value of property subject to
taxation in New Mexico will be ap-
proximately 67,2S0O0.
TAX levies to be extended upon
the 1921 rolls are now being deter
mined, the first half of which will
be payable January |, 1922 and the
second half June |, 1922. 1t is the
1921 taxes which will provide the
revenues to meet the 1922 budgets
which are now under consideration by
the State Tax Commission.
'"The state levy for 1921 will pro-
.I.bly be five mills as compared with
five and a quarter mills, reduction
of rs mills. This reduction is made
possible by the certification of a mill
state road levy instead OF IL mill.
"As to the county levies the total
will show little or no increase If the
general county school levies be ex-
cluded. Road tax leviss are lower
except in a few counties where spe-
cial acts of the legislature impose ex-
ira levies. For state and federal aid
road projects the total levies will be
decreased approximately 33 l-3 per
cent
"The general county school levies
will show a large increase over those
Of 1920. In the latter year $4.WZ,-
mn was levied for the mainten-
ance of elementary and high schools.
For 1921 the amount will be N673,-
316.lO an increase of $600,S54.4l. or
Is per cent This will.
AZ course. mean a substantial in
,rease in the total levies for all pur-
poses. The special school district
evies will show a decrease OF nearly
100000 in the whole state. Municip- =
II levies will be approximately the
,ame as last year" !
Why Sehssl Lsviss C Up
In order to be able to present def
nitely the reasons why the county !
chool levies viii be higher the State
Record asked Mr.. Joerns for an in !,
erview on the subject and was re-
yarded by receiving the following !.
statement.
Mr.. Joerns used Torrance county
IS an example of the counties which
,ave outstanding warrants. The same
tate of facts apply in a general way =
O all of the other counties which
,ave school Indebtedness.
Mr.. Joerns' statement follows: !,
One Reason Why School Ia. Rates q
Increased This Year Over v
Last Year"
rIn 1921, the general school tax
ate for Torrance County was Is q
Mills, and the yield $l42,064G. This
ear the tax rate is l8 mills. and the
'ield will be $l75,902.30. Taxpayers
f this county will undoubtedly view
he increase in the tax rate with al
rm and considerable surprise.
AN analysis of the budget require c
nents for 1920 brings forth some very 2
facts. The gross debts !.
rere sol 900, plus 5qe for delinquency, !,
making a total of S26,6o4. The ded- = :
ctions were as follows: "
Balance on hand July 1, 1920, s375S5 I
Licenses rs
Apportionment ---------------- le/oo = =
Excess olIZ -
Forest Reserve ------ llOO II