The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1921-10-07

Total collections. ... SIS, 1881 500
While the complete assessment for
the state was announced yesterday,
Commissioner Louthan did not give
out the assessment for the individual
counties. These will be announced in
the next day or two in all likelihood.
The State assessment of $1,709,-
000, 900 is inclusive of all kinds of
property. The exact assessment of
railroads and other public utilities of
Tennessee has not been received from
the State Public Utilities Commission,
but the approximate amount was fur
nished the tax commission, so that
the state tax rate might be certified
to the individual counties before the
converting of the quarterly county
courts next Monday, when the county
rates will be fixed.
Letter from Commissioner Louthan.
The State Board Of Equalization
has practically completed its work,
and has adjourned to meet again on
October 18th to sign the minutes Of
its meeting, and to take final action
on Marion county assessment which
has been held over
Mr.. Louthan's letter to county
court clerks relative to the State
rate, follows:
ut shall be the duty of the State
Board of Equalization to certify to
the various county court clerks to the
state the rate of taxation on all prop
| he 1xxIn hs
fore fixed and provided"
Pursuant to said provision, we
hereby certify to you the rates of tax
alton referred to for state purposes
for the year 1922, computed accord.
ing to the provisions of Section l, Of
said act and other subsequent legisla.
ton. Said rates of taxation follows.
l You should levy for state pur !.
poses on each 500 worth of as \
sessable property,...-............-.-......... Il
2. You should levy for state high
way purposes on each 500 worth
of assessable property, ..........0s
8. You should levy for the univer-
sity fund on each 500 worth of
assessable property. ............-....0 t
/ NCndpteT 90, ACtS Ol lJZl.D
4. You should levy as a state levy
for elementary school purposes
on each 500 worth of assessable
property,
(Section 6, Chapter Ill, Acts of
1915-5c; Section 5 Chapter 118,
Acts of 1921, &c.,
Total state levies, the revenue
from which goes into the State
treasury,
The provision of the sliding scale
act also extends to the levy of 5 cents
for school purposes, the revenue from
4 which remains in your county and
which is not state revenue. Under the
provisions of this act and based or
the assessment for 1921, this levy fol-
school purposes should be reduced tc
minimum of tn cents.
Chapter of the public acts of the
extra session of 1920 extends the pro.
vision of the sliding scale to the high
school levy, the revenue from which
also remains in your county and is moi
state revenue. Under the provisions
of this act and based on the assess.
ment of 1921, it is necessary for the
county court to levy high schoo
tax of pa cents in order to receive
all the benefits accruing in your coun-
ty high school fund from state legis.
lation. Your county court, of course
would have authority to exceed this
levy if the needs of your schools de.
mands it.
Chapter 20 of the public acts of the
extra session of 1920 extends the pro.
visions Of the sliding scale act to the
county school levy of 80 cents provid.
ed in section 8 chapter Ill of the acts
of 1919. Under chapter 20 of the pub.
lie acts of the extra session of 1926
and based on the assessment for 1921
this levy may be reduced by your
county court if you so desire to not
less than 10 cents.
Chapter % of the public acts of the
extra session of 1920 attends the prin-
ciple of the sliding scale to all munic-
ipal levies, and in effect authorizes
and directs your county court to re-
duce all county levies so as to produce
by each levy only sufficient revenue
for the needs of the particular pur-
pose for which it is levied.
We deem it proper to analize the in
crease in the state rate from 26 cents
in 1920 to 35 cents in 1921 and to ex-
plain this increase. Under the provis-
ions of chapter 2 of the public act Of
1919, the state rates for the purpose
therein enumerated are reduced or in
creased in exactly the same ration as
the aggregate of the assessment for
the state is reduced or increased in
any given year. The total assessment
for the State of Tennessee in 1920
was in round numbers 81, 973 900 900
and under the provisions of the slid
ing scale asst the total state tax rates
aggregated 26 cents. The total as
sessments for 1921 has been reduced
to s1,709, 000,0 900 in round numbers
resulting in corresponding increase
of these same rates from 26 cents to
29 cents. So, it will be seen that
there will be no increase IN state tax
es whatever by reason Of the increase