The Delta independent., 1921-01-28
THE BIG MEETING OF
DELTA COUNTY TAXPAYERS

A mass meeting of the taxpayers of
Delta county was held in this city
Wednesday. The first session was
held at the court house in the fore
noon, but after a few preliminaries
adjourned to the Christian church,
as the court room was not large en-
ough to hold the crowd that wished
| to attend.
The afternoon meeting, the church
being packed to the doors,
was called to order by the chairman,
A. j. Hadley, of Paonia, the minutes
being kept by Secretary Worthy Rus
sell, of Lazear.
The object of the mass meeting, as
stated by theschairman, was to con-
slider the matter of what is regarded
as excessively high taxes in Delta
county, find out why these taxes are
so much higher than usual and to as
certain if it is possible to have them
reduced.
County Assessor Merchant was the
first of the county officers to be called
upon. Voluntarily and in answer to
questions, he gave general insight
into the methods of fixing property
valuations and making the tax levies.
In these matters the hands of the as
SCISSORS and county commissioners of
the state are tied by reason of the law
placing a large and the important part
of this in the hands OF the state tax
commission. Mr. Mercahnt conceded
that. probably Montrose county was
getting a more favorable deal from
the commission than Delta,- but was
of the belief that Delta was getting q
better deal than Mesa county. In
Delta county the valuation Of improv-
ed lands is placed at $107 per acre,
while in Mesa It is placed at $3.50 per
is some lower than here, but the as
sessments for maintenance of bitches
is lower here than there. AS an Illus
tration of how the taxes are spent,
Mr.. Mercahnt took 800 as a basis and
showed how it was spent in school
district No. 1, Delta. He showed that
about $55 of this was devoted to
school purposes. Guy Merritt, was out
after information from the assessor
and he got it, as Mr. Merchant told
him and the meeting frankly told all
he could regarding taxation matters.
County Commissioned Beck1ey was
next called upon and answered a num-
ber of questions from the audience.
He was of the opinion that the county
commissioners and other county Off
GERS were doing all they could to keep
down the expenses OF running the
county affairs, but that large part
OF these taxation and valuation mat
ters were-out of their hands and in
the hands of the state tax commission.
the school districts, the town organiza-
tions and the irrigation districts. The
people are demanding good roads over
| which to drive their horses and cars
and II they have good roads they must
as in having everything else they
want, pay for them. It costs money
to run the affairs of state. counties,
towns, school districts, irrigation dis
tricts and the like. Mr.. Beckley said
he was not prepared with the figures
on all these receipts and expenditures.
but that the county surveyor probably
was.
Surveyor Oliver Cook took the ros-
trum and gave figures to show how
road funds were raised and spent. On
being asked by lady in the audience
as to the present condition of the
roads in this county, he replied Rot
tent" He said that the. building of
good roads cost money and consider
able of 1t and that 1t cost about 800
per mile per year to keep the roads
in good condition after they are once
built He conceded that 1t might be a
good thing to put the building and
maintenance of all county roads under
the supervision of a competent engi-
neer, as suggested by M. w. Bennett,
of Rogers mesa, but that the main diff
ficulty would be in finding such man
i and added further that the right kind
Of man would command a fat salary
though he would undoubtedly be worth
It.
County Attorney Stewart explained
| good deal about the working of as
sessment and taxation matters,
dwelling particularly upon these in
connection with schools. He stated
that in Delta district, of which board
he is member, the salaries alone
Of the teachers would amount TO
| $4,000 more this year than last, and
that he was not in favor of reducing
them to any lower figure regardless
of future living conditions In answer
to a questions he stated that he did
not see how any change could be
made now in the matter of valuations
and levies and taxes for this year.
| At this point the following resolu-
tion was introduced: "Be it resolved
| that Il is the sense of this meeting