The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-04-20
BROOK|NCS TAXES
GIVEN ANALYSIS
COMMISSIONER MATHEWS GIVES
INTERESTING TALK AT
ROTARY CLUB
SCHOOL LEVY IS HIGHEST IN STATE
Only One City Has a Lower City
Levy Than %Brookings and
That Is Lead

The city tax levy of BrOokings is
So per cent lower than the average
levy for the city purposes made by
the IL largest cities of South Dakota,
according to figures given by Commits
sioner II. b. Mathews in a talk before
the Brookings Rotary club Tuesday
loon. Professor Mothews had pre-
pared a series of large charts, giving
all Of the figures from the various
cities of the state in tabulated form
to illustrate his points as he progressed
with his discussion of taxation. The
subject of taxation interests everyone
and the clear direct way in which Pro-
fessor Mathews covered the subject
made it doubly interesting and absorb
ing to those who heard him.
Another striking fact brought out
by Mr.. Mathews was that the school
levy in Bookings city is the highest
in the state and 53.9 per cent above
the average levy Of all cities. While
the city levy is the lowest Of all with
the exception of Lead, the high school
levy off sets this to such a degree that
the total city levy for all purposes in
Brookings is equal approximately to
the average South Dakota city. The
total levy in Bookings is 40.3 mills,
while the average of the other cities
is 1913 mills.
An important point to be remem
bered in the consideration Of these
figures and a large factor in making
the city taxes higher this year than
it would be otherwise is the fact that
the city levy this year covers a period
of 16 months instead Of the usual II.
This is occasioned by a recent state
law changing the fiscal year of NUM-
cipalities to correspond with the state
fiscal year. All Of the figures shown
by Mr.. Mathews were on that basis so
the comparisons are exact.
The assessed valuation Of the city
of Bookings by the most recent fig
ures is $4,506, 900. Exemptions lower
this amount to $4,O38, 900. The total
levy is 40.3 mills. Five cities Of the II
listed have higher total levies than
Brookings, these being Watertown,
Huron, Redfield, Rapid City and Nit
chell. Deadwood has the lowest levy,
800 mills.
The school levy of "a mills in Brook
ings is the highest in the state. Red
field ranks second highest with a
school levy of 20.70 mills, Watertown
next with 1875. The city levy Of
ITO mills is below the levies exacted
by other cities excepting Lead, which
has a levy Of 1924 mills. Yankton,
Mitchell, Redfield, Huron and Aber-
deem have levies approximately twice
as great.
For the present 16 months period
the city of B%rookings requires $4,000
to operate the city. OF this sum 3S.l
per cent goes into the interest and
sinking fund, 6.67 per CEN to the IL
brary, sos to contingent fund, II to
septic tank, .S3 to hospital, 2.38 to
fire department, 2.3S to the band, S.33
to streets and walks, 1926 salaries,
1929 to street lighting.
E. H.. Eby, district engineer for the
state highway commission. gave a
short talk before the Rotary club,
telling of the work which the commits
sion is doing in Brookings county this
year. The state has allotted about
100000 to be spent on the state high
ways in BrOokings county this year
and contracts have been let for all
but about $50, 200. Work for this sea
change in the condition OF the road be-
tween here and Volga is expected by
next fall when the work closes.