The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-07
BURDEN OF TAXES
TOO HEAVY HERE
County Commissioners Write State
Equalizer That Assessment
Inequalities Do Not Exist Here.


AS the meeting of the board of
county commissioners Of Escambia
county, Florida, the clerk was instruc-
ted to communicate with Marion L.
Dawson, state equalizer of taxes, Tall
lahassee, Florida. and acknowledge re-
cedpt OF his letter to the board of
March 25, 1922. wherein he incBosed a
letter addressed to Wiley J. McDavid,
tax assessor, Escambia county, Florida.
directing the tax assessor to raise the
assessment in this county on peronal
and real property fifteen per cent.
It was further resolved that the clerk
be instructed to advise Mr.. Dawson
that the board of county commissioners
of Escambia county will appeal from
the order as made by him directing the
tax assessor to raise the assessment
fifteen per cent: and, also that the
Ter for the board be directed to
prepare the necessary papers for form
I. !. !. zeal 20 the board of equalizers in
this case, and that copy OF this reso-
luton, together with the formal appeal
as prepared by the attorney. be for
warded by the clerk, one to the COVER
nor of the state of Florida, as CHAIR
man of the board of equalizers and the
other to Honorable Marion L. Dawson,
state equalizer of taxes.
On motion of Soderlind, seconded
by Gates, the resolution was adopted.
The appeal made to Mr.. Dawson fol-
lows:
Honorable Marion l.. Dawson, state
equalizer OF taxes, Tallahassee. Fla.
Dear sir:
In accordance with the resolution,
copy Of which is hereto attached passed
by the board, the board OF county COM
nfssioners of Escambia county, Flor
ida appeal to the board of equalizers
of the state, from your order dated
March 20, 1922, directed to Honorable
Wiley j. McDavid, tax assessor, Es-
Gambia county, Florida, in which order
you directed him to raise the valuation
on real and personal property In Es-
Gambia county, Florida, 15 per cent for
the year 1922, and for ground of the
appeal state:
/. That the assessment in Escambia
county, Florida, at this time and for
the year, 1921, is not unequal as COM
pared to other counties in the state
OF Florida.
2. That inequalities do not exist in
the assessment in Escambia county
for real and personal property for the
year 1921 as compared to other coun-
ties in the state of Florida.
8. That the value assessed upon
real and personal property in Escambia
county Florida, for the year 1921, is
reasonable and just and not too low,
but is reasonably uniform as between
the other counties of the state of Flor
ida.
4. That the raising Of the assessment
value as directed by the state equalizer
of taxes would create an unequal and
unreasonable burden upon the tax pay
ers of Escambia county as between
Escambia county and the other res
pective counties of the state Of Flor
ida.
5. Because the tax assessment for
the year 1921 is just and reasonable,
and the taxation in Escambia county,
Florida, and the necessities for levy
ing increased taxation, and by reason
OF Escambia county road paving bonds
issued, special tax road and bridge
district bonds issued, and special tax
school district bonds issued through
out the county, has created in Escam-
bia county a greater burden upon the
tax payers of Escambia county than
most of the other counties throughout
the state OF Florida, and any raise
upon the assessed valuation OF the tax
able property in the county would
G cate an unreasonable burden and
would create inequality between the
burden OF taxation and assessment in
Escambia county and between the
other counties OF the state of Florida,
and for these reasons the board of
county commissioners would respect
fully appeal to the board of equalizers
Of the state of Florida and ask to be
heard upon this appeal atsuch a time
as the board Of equalizers shall set.
6. That the decision of Honorable
Marion L. Dawson, state equalizer of
taxes, and the order to raise the as
sessment in Escamibia county, Florida,
directed to Wiley j. McDavid, county
tax assessor, for said county, was
based on investigation made by
another than himself.
7. That the order OF the state equal
izer of taxes to w. j. McDavid, tax
assessor for Escambia county, Florida,
was based on information and investi-
cation of another person other than
Honorable Marion L. Dawson, state
equalizer of taxes, contrary to law.
8. That the state equalizer of taxes
acted without authority in making the
order to raise the assessment in Es-
Gambia county. Florida
Respectfully submitted,
Escambia county, Florida
L. s. Gilmore, Chairman,
T. T. Wentworth
Gus A. SoderIind
II. =. Candy