Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-20
BIC VALUATION
SLASH REDUCES
STATE REVENUE
Drop of $242,4l6,355
Is Registered in 1922
Reports.
(Tribune's Helena Sureau.)

Helena, Aug. ia Gecroa sc in the
property valuations of most of the
counties of the state which mas been
going on since 1919 until il has reached
total of nearly Il quarter billion dol
lars has impressed members OF the
state board of equalization that there
must be some adjustment of land as
sessments as between counties and the
probable bringing of land assessments
up to a certain standard or the state
will not be able to realize its neces-
sary revenues from taxation.
The state board is impressed with
the view that there has been an ap-
parent intent upon the part OF as
SCISSORS in many of the counties to
lower the assessments IN their coun-
ties with the possible idea of relieving
their counties of the burden of the
state tax Members of the board take
the view that county assessors seem
to be competing with each other for
the purpose of getting their assess
ments down to as low figure as they
will stand. knowing that the county
revenues can be derived by increased
levies without placing any heavier
burden upon the taxpayer. while by
reducing the valuations the state tax
will be reduced accordingly because it
is limited by the constitution to GER
tain levy.
May Force Increase
The state board has now under con-
sideration some plan for forcing the
several counties to increase their iand
valuations but it is proving great
undertaking and nothing definite in
that line has been decided upon.
Tabuations of the returns Of the
assessors of the various counties made
in the office of the state board of
equalization show that within the past
four years the assessments Of pro
perty in the state, as returned by
these assessors, not including railroads
or intercounties property. which Is
assessed by the state board, has de-
creased $242, ,416,355 or 1854 per cent.
In 1919 the total of these assess
ment valustions was 81, ,465. .5o6. IOl
while in 1922 it has dropped TO ST.
223, 140,S46.
The state board of equalization re-
Gently certified TO the several counties
the various levies for state purposes.
totalling 1875 mills, and figuring the
loss to the state at this rate upon the
42,416,355 decrease in valuation
would mean drop in state revenues
from direct taxation of 81, 9,O54.S9
for 1920 alone.
Big Drop In Year
About half of this great decrease in
assessments has occurred within the
last year. the drop in assessment as
returned by the counties this year from
that of 1927 being $11S.577, ,S54. in
which real estate profited the greatest,
the decrease upon this class Of prop
erty amounting to .$13. .194, Asa. while
livestock decreased $13, 161 .591, and
personal property dropped $32 90, ITO.
In all of the 81 counties of the state
property assessments have maintained
their own during the past four years in
only four, namely, Garfield. Missouli
Phillips and Ravalli. In these counties
the increases were small. amounting to
$201. AL in Garfield, $SS3,773 in Mis-
soula, S162. 900 in Phillips, and 74,2OO
in Ravali.
Every other county in the state
showed decreases Of from .73 OF ! per
cent, ms in McCone county, = %6.6S
per cent in OAouteau county.