Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1922-07-20
NOTICE TO TAX PAYERS.

The Supervisors are required by
law to equalize assessments of prop
erty, at their July meeting; and to
at their August meeting. Unless
you complain at that time, the law
denies you the right to do so after
wards.
The Tax Commission wants you to
go before the, Board of Supervisors
with objections-as to the assess
ments those who are trying to "get
by. Many of those, who wish to
escape taxation, go before the Super
visrs with their complaints; yet none
do so to protest against the taxdod~
gers assessment. The Board is
usually left alone to resist the on
slaught of the tax-dodgers. The
Supervisors not only. need your moral
support, but they also need your in
formation as to what property is not
listed on the rolls and as to what
property is listed at an undervalua
ton. Examine the roll and point
out to the Supervisors who is about
to "get by" and how.
There are several hundred thou
sand children in Mississippi to be
educated. The gallantry of the
Confederate soldier is to be COM
memorated by Confederate pensions.
The ravages of tuberculosis and 9TH
er malignant diseases are to be halt
ed, if possible. The afflicted are to
be treated The insane are to be
cared for. Good roads are to be
constructed and maintained. Many
other things of the kind are to be
provided for. This cannot be done
except by taxation. Taxation can
not be just unless the Supervisors
equalize the assessments fairly. These
things cover nlnetyfive percentum
Of your taxes.
If the tax dodger succeeds, either
these things will be meagerly provid-
ed for; or the tax rates will be in
creased, and the taxpayer who has
given in an honest assessment, made
to pay more than his Just share of
taxes. Tax rates are very high in
Mississippi. The exclamation OF this
is that SO much property is not as
sessed on the rolls and so much prop
erty is undervalued that the Super
visors are compelled to increase the
tax rates to make up for the short
age in the total revenues to be coll
lected. Such method penalties hon
esty and patriotism. 1t would GER
tainly be fairer to increase the tax
dodgers assessment, and collect the
needed funds by forcing him to pay
his just portion of the tax burden,
instead of burdening the honest tax
payers with higher tax rates.
BY giving in your, assessment for
less than the value Of your property
and by emitting property from your
taXlist, maybe you can save your
self ten or fifteen dollars or even
more, of taxes; but just think what
you will he doing-you will be giving
yo'., support and endorsement y
tax-dndging. Such practice ties the
hand of your Government, which is
doing so much for her citizens-pro-
tecting your property, the life and
liberty of yourself and your dear
ones; educating your children; and
doing many more things for your
welfare. Your lodging your just
share of taxes will enable the big
taxpayers to do so too, and they will
cheat your State and County Govern
ment out of thousands of dollars of
taxes. The expenses of keeping
three or four children in school dur
ing the free school term would be far
greater than the taxes of the average
taxpayer, if such expenses were borne
by private subscription. Do you feel
that you can afford to cripple such
beneficient Government to save so
little?
Some supervisors explain to their
friends: Eve did not want to in
crease your assessment; but the State
Tax Commission compelled US to do
So" If you will examine the law,
you will find that the Tax Commits
sion has not been given the authority
to fix the assessment against any
individual; but that such authority
has been entrusted only to the Super
visors. The State Tax Commission
has control only bver the total assess
ment of each class of property. We
have no. control over the amount OF
money expended by the State Govern
ment. This and the tax rates for it
are fixed by the Supervisors. We
are charged only with the duty OF
|euualizing the total assessment of
each class of property, one county
compared with the others. Do not
mistake this as an apology to the
tax-dodgers because we would be too
glad to make every tax-dodger toe
the mark, if we had the authority of
law to fix, assessments against in
dividuals. We urge you to cooperate
with us in our efforts to get the Sup
ervisors to assess all taxpayers prop
|erly, without fear or favor; for they
alone have such authority.
If the Supervisors fail to make the
proper assessment against any tax
payer, please furnish US with the
facts, and we will request the Attor-
ney General to appeal from the as
sessments to the court. If you like,
your name will be held in confidence.
Yours very truv,
DUNCAN L.. THOMPSON.
Chairman.
IT. 10 1000