Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-07-12
METUCHEN TAX
ACTION TAKEN
Chamber of Commerce at
Session Moves to Cause
Borough Re -ASSesSment

METCCHEN, July 12.-The Me-
flchen Chamber OF Commerce met
last night in special session 10 CON
der the problem OF bringing abouJ
equalization Of taxes and ASSESS
laents in the borough. The outcome
q. the meeting was "A unanimous
decision to send "a delegation Of
Iicfhbors before the borough
"a. at IT'S special meeting next Mon
Gdy night, with u request thaL the
borough fathers appoint II commits
R-3n of three men 10 cquallze assess
nlents for next year.
Proof that assessments In the Dor
ough were made at less than one
third of the true valuations was oil
Tered 10 the chamber Of commerce
members last night. Instances were
cited hat were startling as well A.
unfair.
Samuel Schcnck laid a quantity
ri information before the chamber
and expressed the opinion that the
situation was brought about by rca-
son of the fact that the assessor
received a salary of only $500 year
~ and that the work involved was
100 much for him. Mr.. Schcnck
advocated the installation of The
town manager system for Mctuchen,
but remarked that if it were too
early in the game to change to that
mode of government a new board OF
nssessors should be requested.
In support of his several conten-
lions Mr.. Schenck cited one piece o.
land that contained five buildings,
all residences. The assessments Tor
houses and land totaled $1,000
while the same properties were val
ued at, had been sold at, or were
offered for sale at valuations
amounting to a sun IN excess OF
$4,000. The 10000 figure was
considered a fair valuation, MI.
Schenck noted, and showed that the
assessments in those cases wcte
made at less than O%pe-third of the
true valuations.
These assessments, he continued,
were<Ldoubtless correct fifteen or
twekty years ago, but the original
assessments were allowed to renain
M the tax books from year to year
Without change. The speaker also
stated that W. individual taxpayers
of the borough carry insurance that
amounts to one-ffth of the total per
sonal property assessments in Me
tuchen. 1t has been estimated that
the insurance on all property in the
borough reveals a total valuation of
SO, 900, 900, while the assessed valu-
alton Is below $4,000. 600. This / ont
was made to further establish the
contention that assessments were
less than one-third of true valua-
lions.
Other members Of the chamber
and non-members in attendance at
the meeting spoke of existing dts-
crepancies. At Main and New streets
for instance. it was declared tina. the
smallest Of four lots. all having
buildings upon them, was assessed
at the highest figure.
Another speaker said he had n
valuation of $4,000 upon his prop
erty, while a neiRhbor having a lot
the same size. was assessed at ST.
200. The SAINT man remarked that
-fa<T1rrh had "A personal property as
segsment two years ago and that
when he bought a secondhand piano
for $50 his assessment was boosted
$500 more.
A lengthy discussion took place
as these citations developed and the
meeting resolved itself into "A deter
mination TO investigate further, de-
eide upon what should be done and
then appeal to the borough council