The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1921-09-22
VS. HOW COUNTY
4nXES HAVE JUMPED
iletin Issued BY State League In.
forms on Big Jump in Levies in
Past Few Years


jumped in the past few years, is told
graphically in folder distributed in
the county this week by the Lower
the Cost of Government League" OF
Seattle.
The League issued the following
appeal to the people of the county:
Taxpayers in the State of Wash
1ngton are this year paying almost
double the amount of taxes assessed
against their property three years
$. ago. This condition prevails in ev-
cry section of the state and conse-
quently the demands for tax reduc-
tion is general throughout the state.
In some instances the increase is ev-
en- more than double.
The state tax collected in What
com county this year is more than
double the 1917 levy. The total tax
levied against property in Whatcom
county in 1917 was $240,2S6.03, and
in 1920, $544,OO9.59, an increase of
$3O3,723.56 in state taxes for the
three years. OF this increase $127,-
224.51 was for state general fund
purposes.
The taxpayers have been told that
state taxes do not amount to very
much when the entire tax burden is
taken into consideration, but the
fact that similar increases, in pro-
portion to the amount of taxes col
lected, appear in every county thru
out the state should be considered
in any analysis Of the tax problem.
Between the years 1917 and 1920
the total amount of taxes levied by
Wiatcom county for all purposes
state, county, city, roads and
schools increased $1,109, ,S1S.33.
The total amount levied in 1917 was
$1,32S,O74.65, and in 1920 the levy
was $2,437,S92.9S. The increase for
county general fund purposes, dur
ing this period, was SIS, 5,10333; for
!. county roads, 161,51S.64, and for
county schools, 1868, 9,4S1.S7.
In preceding pages We have at
cy to higher taxation throughout the
entire state, giving the cause and the
remedy to be applied. In this sum-
mary it is the purpose to deal entire
ly with the. situation in ,Whateom
county. In both instances, however,
the cause is the same-neglect of
public duty on the part OF the tax
payers-and the same remedy must
be applied.
Taxes will never be reduced until
some restraint is placed on the ex-
penditure of public funds raised by
taxation and proper restraint Will
never be placed on public expendi-
lures until the taxpayers are thor
oughly organized and stand ready to
exercise their voting power as a sin
gle united force.
If the taxpayers of Whatcom coun-
ty were organized they would soon
be able to control the tax situation
in Whatcom county and would also
be a strong factor in forcing reduc-
tions in the cost of operating the
state government.
The remedy for high~taxes lies en-
tirely in the hands of the taxpayers
BY their voting strength they can
force action on the part of their pub
lie officials.
D. Levies are now being made up IN
the form of budget estimates. fres-
ent indications are that still further
tax increases are being considered
and will be made unless the taxpay-
ers present their side of the case with
sufficient force when final hearings
are held on the estimates the hfst
Monday in October
The time for the taxpayers Oh
Whatcom county to act is NOW. Inc
only protest that counts is the one
that is made before the budget estl-
mates are adopted, and any protest
IN he successful must be backed by