Omaha daily bee., 1922-03-20
BUFFALO COUNTY.


hFaTney=krpTssgnlaiiyes ~ more
than hall 0i the townships and IRON
every part Of lhe county met lH the
Farm Bureau rooms here 80 discuss
ways aad means OF reducing taxa
lion "a Buffalo county, Representa-
tive W, 4, Gould Of limerick was
chosen chairman OF this committee,
Having been IN ths state legislature
at the time that manY 81 the new
revenue laWs were enacted AlF, Gould
gave a very interesting and lnstEne-
tive talk an Ihe new laws and the 81.
feet that they will have on our taxa
ton, .
During his remarks ME. Gould
discussed the new schedules oi taxa.
ton aud pointed out the TACT that
much oi the money on deposit IN
banks had not been given IN before,
but under the new lazy Wisconsin
had found that a big increase was
shown IN this respect. He suggested
that every taxpayer should become
thoroughly familiar with the sehed-
ule and know what changes have
been made,
suggest Comparison.
Members ~ the committee snsseslea
that ~ order O. fsadiust taAes 70 present
conditions a study be made ef the taxes
paid ~ each individual for the period of
isis 20 1915 and these compared with the
taxes paid for 1891 ana for tsss While
the major portion nf the COMMITTEES felt
that mast of the assessors hhd been tslt
IN the plseinEs et values. a fss Instances
Wsfs shown whore unfair values were
given This discussion brought out not
only Instances % unfair assessment. hut
also cases wherein the tahpasrfs haa
given very unfair estimates ef the value
nf property, some af the men present
who have been assessors, expressed the
idea that assessing was largely matter
OF each Individual placing far value
on his property and seeing that the rest
ot tho people did the same,
The ulah OF arriving at real estate ass
sessment was discussed ia detail. Ths
present plan as worked out by Gilbert
iiaAAe, county clerk, II 20 give each land
owner card with the assessed valuation
OF the real estate az the time that the
personal schedule Is made out. This VIII
give each mRn n statement af the as
sssssd value Of the land and VIII give him
a chance TO present a claim for reyelua |.
an injustice has been done.
Schools Are Discussed.
That schools receive nearly nne.half Of
the taxes OF Buffalo county II shown In
a recent report. Tho schools receive u
per cent of thh taxes or this county hnd
In the general readius'ment Of taxes u
would seem that one Of two things must
be dones either the people must bo willing
20 pay the present school tax or reduce
them.
No definite recommendations were made.
but IL Is urged that tho patrons of each
school district make a careful study OF
how the money Is spent for school pur-
poses.
There was no inclination on the part
Of those present TO reduce the efficiency
Of the schools or In any way to handicap
the educational work but with other
things having taken decided slump in
price the opinion was expressed that II
might be necessary 10 make some reduc-
tlons IN teachers salaries. Some OF the
more outspoken stated that they were
not in favor OF bringing them back to
prewar prices but 10 pring them down in
keeping with the prices OF other things,
Ono school represented paid from $50 TO
800 per month before the war but was
now paying almost double that amount.
II was suggested that reduction OF
lfh per cent be made in this district
and that at this salary a satisfactory
teacher could be secured.
one outstanding situation was pointed
out by Mr.. Grassmeyer that while the
farm land had been increased In valuation
nearly 40 per cent that the railroads
had been Increased but s per cent in
valuation and that this had thrown an
unfair taxation on the farm land.
Favor General Reduction.
II was discussed at some length as 10
the hest method OF making suitable re-
ductions in taxes. II was finally agreed
that every member OF this committee
survey III budgets. especially those OF
any unnecessary and duplicated expense.
A special committee consisting of w. T.
Gould, NJ II. Webb and r. ]. Francis
was appointed TO meet with the county
pense and make all possible cuts and
elimnations Of expense. And that
committee representing Buffalo county
taxpayers Join with similar committees