Smyrna times., 1924-12-10
KENT BOARD OF ASSESSMENT
EXPECTED TO UNDERGO CHANGE
MANY IN KENT co. WANT TO
SEE H. B. GRIEVES RETAINED
His Faithful and Conscientious Dis
charge of Duties and Experience
Make Him a Valuable Officer

O VI CIiS HlOSI important duties
facing the new members of the Kent
County Levy Court when they assume
Office next month, will be the naming
of the Board of Assessment The
terms of the present members expire
at the end of this year and their sue
cessors will be appointed for a term
OF four years. The new Commission
ers, {. B. Hope, of Dover; George p.
Scotton, of Hartly and Howard Moore
OF near Milford, have been non-com-
initial about their intentions thus far
but they have been gathering consid-
cradle information concerning the ac-
tlvities of the Board and the prospec-
tive members of it. Due to the fact
that all of the Commissioners are new
members of the Levy Court they are
somewhat handicapped in making ap-
polntments of this kind. In order to
make the appointments properly, they
will first have to study the require
ments and activities of the office. The
law provides that two members of the
Board of Assessment shall come from
the major political party represented
on the Levy Court and the third men,
Der from the minor party. It also
provides that two members can be
selected from the same Senatorial
District but does not confne the ap-
pointments to Levy Court Districts.
The new Levy Court will be composed
Of two Republicans and one Democrat
which means that two of the members
will be Republicans and the other a
Democrat. The present Board of As
sessment is composed of two Demo
Gratis and one Republican.
Numerous Applicants For the Job
There are numerous applicants for
the appointments and Of course each
has his political hackers but Just how
much weight they will have with the
new Commissioners remains to be
seen. Tax payers of upper Kent
County would like to see Harry B.
Grleves of Smyrna, continued on the
Board of Assessment. He is a Demo-
crat and one of the most conscientious
officials on the Board. He is regard
ed most valuable man and his re-
tentiOn would be a business like view
on the part of the new Republican
Levy Court. An unseen factor that
will probably play a large part in the
selection of the members of the Board
of Assessment is the financial condi-
ton Of the county. With the increas-
ed expenses in connection with the
bonded Indebtedness of the county,
more money will be needed next wear
to meet the expenses of the county.
The new Commissioners realize that
about the worst thing they could do
would be to increase the tax rate and
1t IS quite likely that the Republican
party leaders will insist that no in
crease be made. On the other hand a
general increase in the assessment
would also be very Objectionable. One
OF the things that remains for the
Levy Court is to appoint a Board of
Assessment that will see that all
property is properly assessed in an
effort to bring in the additional rev.
enue to meet the extra expenses. This
would appear to be very hard. The
present Board of Assessment has Wis
tied every section of the county sew
eral times and have closely checked
over the returns in an effort to have
the proper assessment on every piece |
of property.
Levy Court Has Task To Preform
Another item that the new Com /
mssioners will have to bear in mind
IS the fact that the present Lew |
Court was able to make appropria-
5lons to several county agencies such .
As the Farm Bureau and Fire Com (
panes without raising the tax rate
and were also able to close their fiscal
year with balance in the trasury af-
.er all the bills were paid. Judging
rom the comment of some of the new
commissioners, they are giving the
5oard of Assessment careful consid-
'ratlon before they commit them
selves to any appointments. Their
may cause some sur
'rlse and may not be of the usual
ype that is pleasing to the politi-
lanS The new Commissioners real
re that the success of their office
'reatly depends upon the functions