The Delta independent., 1922-12-15
TAXPAYERS MEET AND DISCUSS
PROBLEMS CONFRONTING ALL

Delta County Tax Payers League
held at the Court House Monday af-
ternoon.
S. A. Sylvester. Chairman, presided
while Millard Fairlamb was in his
place as secretary.
Nearly every section of the county
was represented.
George Roller. a member of the
school board at Hotchkiss, submitted
a motion to the effect that the
state of Colorado should control the
sale of school books. and that the
books should have printed the price
at which they should be sold, and
thus prevent dealers from raising the
price.
Senator Rockwell stated that in
order to get any legislation along this
line, or along the line of uniform
text books. it would be necessary to
empower the legislature to act; that
at present the legislature has no
power to take such action.
A resolution was introduced pro-
viding that the Taxpayers League
ask the Northumberland and
Representative-elect to introduce and
advocate the passage of a bill to re-
duce the rate of interest charged as
a penalty on delinquent taxes and
permitting the county commissioners
to sell the property which has not
been purchased under tax sale at all
or which has been sold for two years,
at 6 per cent. After considerable dis
cussion this was passed.
Mr.. Fairlamb explained that bud
get system should be adopted; and
cited statistics to show that during
led. and that the taxes for 1922 would
be still higher. He said the purpose
was to reduce the cost on all of
them, whether sold or stricken off the
county for the entire three-year per-
iod.
He suggested that if the county
finds that 1t cannot sell some of
these properties at tax sale, that the
county be permitted to bid them in
at 6 per cent interest. in case of sale
for two successive years.
Mr. Roberts of Paonia said he did
not see the object of the penalty;
why not say 6 per cent for all. isn't
It fact that a man Is liable to lose
his property because OF the property
having to go at 6 per cent? Let the
whole thing go at per cent" said
Mr. Roberts.
. Mr.. Fairlamb said he believed the
rate on first and second year sales
should be reduced: that he believed
ha l.
charged are extortionary.
A gentleman from Cedaredge stated
that he believed If the county COM
missioners lessened the penalty that
some would take advantage OF It. He
said that it is absolutely. right that
the taxes should run at 6 per cent,
because taxes are something that
every man figures on paying. but 1t is
practically fact that they couldn't
run at 6 per cent; they couldn't get
the law passed. and 1t would be i'm
possible for the county and other
governmental departments to carry
on their work, so we would have to
make the penalty greater than that
to get the law through. so the best
thing would be to make the law as
low as possible. consistent with
their ability to run the government
He closed by saying: "The more you
encourage delinquent tax payers now.
/ think, the better 1t is from bust.
ness standpoint"
The second resolution was as fol-
lows: THAT our ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
elect and representative-elect be re-
quested to advocate a law making a
penalty for the infraction OF the pre-
sent law SO as to compel under pen
atty. the officers OF school boards
and the purchasers of bond to pay
into the county treasury the proceeds
Of bond issues Sold" and was adopt
ed after discussion. with the follow
ing amendment, Providing that the
county treasurer shall re-deposit these
funds as requested by the local
school issuing the bonds.
A third resolution introduced was;
THAT without expense to the school
district or town or state, the public
examiner at present in office. be re-
quired, in making report on build
ing and loan associations, etc. also
check up the treasurer of school dis
tricts and the heasurer of towns and
states"
DR.. Miller suggested that one OF
the main reasons why this law should
be passed is that It would help to get
uniform system OF accounting,
which does not exist at the present
time. He also said that it is a diff
cult matter tn get the auditor IN
audit the books for the Building &
Loan Assn, and that the only way
in which his company ever secures an