Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-03-10

pay taxes on ~ per cent. OF IT'S Naluc,
it is still high out of proportion to
country property, which is returned on
far lower basis. The cost of govern
ment is high; but we get our share of
the benefit, and we've got to pay for it.
There is no getting around that. II we
go trying to reduce our assessment in
this manner. | mink we will be in
danger of having them raised still
higher. and if you will take my warn
ing under the circumstances. VIC had
better be satisfied If we can keep them
where they are"
That, in substance, was the clear,
common sense declaration of J. B. Ford
of Bethel, to a meeting of the men,
bers of the county board of equaiiZa-
ton in the courthouse last Tuesday.
This being the year for the assess
ment of real estate, members of the
board, when they came after the re-
turns for their respective townships,
met in the courthouse to consider the
whole matter of equalization, more es-
pecially with a view to getting at uni
formitv as to procedure, and eXchang-
ing ideas generally. The different
townships were represented as follows:
Bethel. B. Ford, T. e. Brandon.
Bethesda-R. NJ. Bratton, S. G. Byers.
Broad River-Not represented
Bullock's Creek. c. Blair, r. L.
Vinson.
Catawba-J. r. Gettys, T. w. Jack
son, T. NJ. Oates, T. A. Barron.
Fort Mill-Country not represented.
Kings Mountain-R. n. Whitesides.
York;. r. McCorkle, G. NJ. Carroll,
r. E. Mcfarland.
Rock Hill-W. w. Miller.
Fort MILL. A. Harris.
York.. NJ. Starr, j. c. Wilborn.
In the absence of J. T. Crawford, the
chairman of the board, Auditor Love
presided. Miss Wilma Quinn, of the
auditors office acted as secretary.
There was a full and free discussion
of the whole situation, and this discus
sion not only disclosed a desire to dc
the fair thing, as far as possible; but
considerably better appreciation oi
the seriousness of the duties involved
than heretofore. In fact 1t Is said by
those who have been in more or less
close touch with the board for many
years, it was probably the best meet
| ing they have ever known.
There is feeling that York county
property Is assessed higher in proper
! ton to the property Of most other
counties of the state. This feeling !:
based upon records, and there is d
feeling that something should be don,
to bring the York county assessment
down to something like a nearer basi:
of equality. To that end there was in
troduced a resolution that the aggre
gate assessed value of real estate bt
cut 20 per cent. with due provision O
course, of raising such assessments al
are obviously lower in proportion u
property around them and after quite
a heated discussion this resolution wa!
carried by a small majority.
But Hon. j. S. Brice, county attor'
ney, who was present for the purposI
Of giving such assistance as he could
made it clear that the board had III
power to take such action; that II wa!
there not to make assessments; Du
only to eoualize returns as they hat
been lodged with the auditor, and th'
resolution was re-considered and re-
Scindcd.
1t was in connection with this rathe
warm discussion that Mr.. Ford made
the declaration that is quoted above.
But the entire board is convinced
that something should be done in th'
direction of equalizing York count!
real estate valuation by twenty pc
cent. 1t was decided to call TIE atten
ton OF the state tax commission TO th'
subject and ask for a material reduc
| ton.
II was resolved that the assessed
valuation of rcal estate be kept o.
nearly as possible as it has been durln'
the past four years, except that II
cases where the assessment OF any
given piece of real estate Is cleart!
too high or too low, there will b.
proper adjustment.
In the assessment of mules ant
horses. $75 is to be taken as the tol
valuation for the best animals anc
others are to be assessed in proper
ton as nearly as possible on basl:
of that standard.