The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-02-16
TAX. BILLS IN
LEGISLATURE
ARE EXPLAINED
Misunderstanding Exists Re.
garding Two Measures
Says Converse
PUT UP TO VOTERS

An election ought to, in the .ast
analysis. decide the question of tax
levies, Tax Commissioner e. c. Com
verse said today in statement is
sued to clear up misunderstanding
regarding the classification ard tax
limitation bills before the legisla
ture. Mr.. Converse's statement fol
lows:
"Misapprehension evidently exists
in some quarters with reference To
bills which have been introduced
dealing with the subject of the elias
sification of property for taxat4pn
purposes and the limitation of the
rates of levy.
This misapprehension arises no
doubt from the fact that the COM
mittees have before them bill deal
ing with the subject of limitation
of levies and separate bill which
proposes the reduction of the as
sessed val uation by assessing all
property at fifty percent of actual
value. These two bills were intro
duced by different members of the
legislature and each was drafted
without reference to the other. The
rates suggested in the limitation bill
afford basis for discussion only in
case assessed valuation are to re-
main at about the 1922 figures. No
member of the tax committees en-
tertains the idea of thus reducing
the assessed valuation and at the
same time recommending the rates
embodied in the limitation bill
Plan Of Committee
The plan of the committee mem
bers if first to determine upon a
policy with reference to classified
tion and basis of assessment, and,
when that has been determined up
on, to take up the problem of chang
ing the present tax limitation laws
so as to adapt them to the new
basis. In so doing, they are pro-
ceeding carefully, study all available
information, and considering the
problem from every angle.
"The feel that the mandate of the
voters is that they shall do what
may be done to reduce taxes, and
they realize that little can be done
in this direction unless economies
are practiced by local taxing dis
tricts. Such economies will necessi-
tate curtailment of programs. 9th
erwise there can be no appreciable
reduction of the tax burden. The
voters of each taxing district should
be consulted with reference to the
adoption or continuance of pro-
gram which entails burdensome tax
es. Heretofore voters have not been
advised of such matters until after
the levies have been made, at which
time protests would have been un-
availhg. 1t seems fairer and more
Sensible to provide that they shall
be consulted before excessive levies
can be made. Perhaps they will de-
termine that certain parts of the
program are not worth what they
cost and should be dispensed with
On the other hand, they may vote to
continue present expenditures, thus
acquiescing in the resulting high
taxes.
Should Be Consulted
Zone reason why the voters of in
dividual taxing districts should oe
consulted lies in the fact that prob.
lens and conditions vary so much in
different localities that it is not
possible to devise limitation Law
which will fit them all. Therefor.
the appropriate response to the de
mand for lower taxes is to devise al
| effective tax limitation law, tn,
limits of which may be exceeded only
with the consent of those who vii
have the taxes to pay. No other leg
islature within the memory of tn.
present generation has been con
fronted with SO insistent a demans
that taxes be reduced. It cannot, b,
any possibility, accomplish what j.
expected Of it along this line. L
cannot even make a fair showing O
reducing taxes unless the policies
it adopts and the legislation it enact,
lead to a curtailment Of expenditure.
of local taxing DISTRICTS