Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-29
Tax Exemption
Hearing Thursday
Brings Out Many
Points of Interest

ut seems as II some Of the schools
which keep acquiring property. a good
deal moro than Is required for edu-
cational purposes, should be made to
bear some Of the burden Of taxation in
the towns where they are located" as
serted Merle J. Hartman OF Readfield.
State Grange lecturer. Thursday morn
ing at the first public hearing before
the State board investigating the Maine
tax exemption laws. held in the State
assessors Office at the State House.
Mr.. Hartman referred to the situa-
ton in Readneld, where at one end OF
the town is property Of the Augusta
Water District, exempt from taxation.
and at the other end Of the village the
Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kents
Hill, also exempt from taxation by law.
Thus the burden of taxation has to be
met by the people residing between
these limits. ne pointed out.
During the past year the Augusta
Water District has acquired four or
five farms. also a schoolhouse, in that
part Of the town, and the town as a
municipality derives no benefit from
the district Mr.. Hartman asserted.
Further than that, there is no indus
try in the village. Kents Hill Semi
nary has recently-acquired Chase Hall,
buuding-built by Professor Chase
and formerly owned by him.
"Is there any additional public bur-
DEN on account Of the Augusta Water
District property in Readfeld?" asked
Herbert T. Powers Of Fort Fairfield,
member Of the board.
mo. The property is simply lost as
taxable proposition" answered Mr..
Hartman.
Speaking of the benefit of Kents
Hill Seminary to the town, Mr.. Harri-
man said that 1T serves as the village
high schol and the pupils of Readfield
in attendance get n small reduction
in tuition. He said. however, that the
institution is run by a board OF trus-
tees. the majority of whom live outside
Of the town. The town has to main
tain roads leading to the school, ana
the institution receives the benefits OF
town taxes but pays nothing for these
benefits.
From the figures submitted to the
board on the QUESTIONABLE sent to the
selectmen of the town, it was shown
that the valuation Of Kents Hill Semi
nary is $4,000 and the valuation Of
the Augusta Water District property
I'm Readfe1d $13,500. The property
value Of the town Is $611,0 900. Mr..
Hartman expressed the opinion that
S13,500 is a low valuation for the Au-
gusta Water District property located
in the town.
Mr.. Hartman said that many people
wonder where the exemptions will stop.
| He had no solution to the tax eXemp-
| tion problem to offer. however.
Grin B. Frost, city treasurer OF Au-
| gusta, referring to certain conditions
;, l.ot 1n
why small schools, church property,
etc, should be exempt but that when
churches and schools buy apartment
| houses or other real estate for invest
meat purposes he did not see why
| that property should be exempt. leav-
| ing the tax burden for the common
| people. He called attention to GER
| tain properties in Augusta exempt by
| law, while the burden Of taxation is
| growing more and more each year.
Mr.. Frost also called attention to
| the law by which soldiers or sailors
| OF the civil war and other wars since,
| or their widows, over 20 years of
| age may receive property exemption
up to $4,000. In the discussion 1t was
shown that while this law now only
| applies to veterans OF the Civil War
| or their widows. its provisions will
| later take in the veterans OF the
| Spanish War and the World War, or
| their widows. 1t was Mr.. Frost's
opinion that the men who shouldered
the gun in defense Of the country
should receive a liberal property ex-
| omption.
State Bank Commissioner Fred F..
| Lawrence recommended that in place
of the present franchise tax of one
| half Of one per cent, on savings banks
and trust companies. there be tax
al lower rate with fewer deductions.
! This. in his opinion would enable the
| banks to maintain q normal invest
ment policy and aproper diversified
: ton Of their security holdings.
The hearing brought out many in
, tercsting points which will be given
| consideration by the board which will
make it's report to the next legisla-
ture. The following members OF
the board were present Yesterday:
Chairman. State Auditor r. D. Hay
ford; secretary. Clement 8. Stetson,
chairman Of the board Of State As
SCISSORS: Clarence Hanson Of Auburn
and Herbert T. Powers Of Fort Fair
field. The other member Of the