, 1925-04-16
WYOMING TAXES
ARE EQUITABLY
DISTRIBUTED

"A thorough study of the Wyoming
tax levies has been recently COM
pleted by the State Board of Equal
ization, and comparative statistics
have beer obtained ON the levies dur
ing the past few years. The Board
ascertained in its study of the tax
ing problem in Wyoming that the
people of the commonwealth are
paying comparative low taxes this
year, according to Claude l.. Draper,
a member of the Board.
I'VE find the tax levy of 1909 to
be FAT mills and the levy of 1924
2.8152 mills" Mr.. Draper stated.
1.-THE levy of 1924 covered practical
ly all of the state activities which
were covered by the levy of 1909 and
in addition thereto included a levy
for interest on state highway bonds.
tuberculosis sanatorium and for
normal training schools amounting to
"a of a mill. In other WORDS, the
levy Of 1924 would have been AZTEC
mills II it could have been possible
to exclude the levies for the three
activities above named.
1T is true that the state levy of
1924 raised considerable more rev.
enue than the levy OF 1909, but the
question OF greatest importance, how
ever, is not the aggregate amount
raised, but rather how the raising of
this additional revenue effected the
individual taxpayer.
'In 1909 the tax for state purposes
on cattle, horses and sheep amounted
to ~$102,78S.35; in 1924 the state
levy on the same property produced
a revenue OF $7~9,652.94, or 28 6
per cent less than in the year 1909.
The railroads OF the state in the year
1903 paid into the state treasury the
sum of $12O.645.34. while for the
year 1924 they paid $245,4O1.S0, ar
increase of 1913 per cent.
THE ranchman or farmer who in
1909 owned 100 head of stock cat
tie, four head of work horses and two
head of saddle horses paid upon a
valuation of $2.64O; the state tax
amounted to 1852. Assuming that
in 1924 the same ranchman or farm
er owned the same number of cattle
and horses of similar kind, he would
have been called upon to pay upon a
valuation of $2,045. The tax for
state purposes would have amounted
to S5.75 or IL per cen less than in
1909.
Take the farmer with his work
horses and grade dairy cows The
state tax upon his horses amounted
to 16 cents per head in 1909 while in
1924 he paid "a cents per head. a re-
duction OF approximately 100 per
cent. The state tax on his dairy COWS
was slightly lower in 1924 than it
was in 1909.
"The Union Pacific railroad in
1908 paid $236.73 into the state for
each mile of main line. while in 1924
they paid 1896 10 into the state for
each mile. being an increase OF 165
per cent Valuation in 1908 being
$14.400 per mile, levy 6.2 mills; in
1924 valuation SS4,094 levy 2.S152.
Take the coal produced in the
state in 1909 and W. find that Rock
Springs district contributed to state
government approximately 2 mills
per ton, the Sheridan coal 1.6 mills
per ton. In 1924 the coal from Rock
Springs district paid approximately
8 mills a ton and the Sheridan coal
IA mills. increases OF 800 n 1862
per cent respectively.
1.-The iron ore produced by the
Colorado Fuel a Iron company In the
Hartville district In 1924 paid 1852
per cent more on each ton than they
did In 1909 towards support of state
government.
THE present situation is due to the
gradual adjustment Of values by this
board. We have made an honest sn-
dsavor to %equalize the tax by adjust
ing the values so that each and every
taxpayer. be he corporation. farmer.
ranchman or laborer subscribe his
Just share towards maintaining the
state government.
I'VE admit and 1t must be recog-
-'gcd by all hat under our present
revenue system the county assessor
l. .t,.t ,.., - tar lp,ipfctrotirp