Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-29
STATE TAX CUT
(Continued from Page One)

the money expended. To try and keep
mace with communities or states whose
ability to have and pay for is far In
excess of our own, is to invite financial
disaster. they point out.
The board emphasizes the import
ance' OF the work of the local assessor
and declares it's belief that the present
system of electing assessors for short
terms is wrong and that the conlpensa-
ton is not sufficient.
Makeup of State Valuation
Reporting as Board OF Equal1za-
ton. the State assessors show the
18th biennial valuation of the State to
be made up as follows: Real estate of
cities. towns and plantations, $780,
1SO,3S7: personal estate of cities,
towns and plantations, $145,60S,964;
real estate in unorganized townships,
$7O,032, 239; growth on public lots, So
1906: total. s72493S,295.
The Increase above the State valua-
ton of 1924 is made up as follows;
Real estate of cities, towns and PLAN
tations, S26,0S5, 500; real estate in I'M
organized townships, s1,791,71S; growth
on public lots, S26,0t0. Total increase,
S27,903,394. Personal estate of cities,
towns and plantations. decrease OF 3d.
404396 Net increase in State valua-
ton, $24 49S,99S.
The report just filed shows the num-
Der of polls taxed as 214.5SS, or de-
crease of 1920 from the number as set
forth in the report of two years ago.
The State tax rate for each of the
two years in the biennial period soon
coming to close was .OO1.
lao ION, ..af 70 rf
by counties as follows: Androscoggin,
S6s,426,e6O; Aroostook, $62,316.s57;
Cumberland. s16S,272.297; Franklin,
s19.466,570: Hancock, s27,6S5,S71; Ken
nebec. s53.419.9SS; Knox, S19, 4577;
Lincoln, S11.507,753: oxford, SS2,29O,-
567: Penobscot. $76,712,03O; Piscata-
quis, s27,449,699: Sagadahoc, $14,-
672,732; Somerset, s39,765, 400; Waldo,
s12,S39,73S; Washington, s2S,22S,14
York, $67,47O,417. Total, $724, ,295.
Reduction of Taxes
"Many people in Maine are seriously
talking about and proposing reduc-
ton in taxes" the State assessors as
sert in their report. "In doing this, we
are advocating something that can on
ly be done in two ways: First, by
abandoning some OF the things we are
now doing; and second, by carrying on
our activities for less money.
1--WE commend the wise business
Judgment of the taxpayers in a Cum
berland county town who met for the
purpose of discussing the articles In
the warrant to be acted on at the an
nual town-meeting. From the reports
coming from this meeting, it seems
evident that extravagant and I'M
necessary appropriations were cut out,
and that only those appropriations
necessary to keep the machinery run
ming smoothly, economically and eih-
GENTLY were allowed. 1t is our opin-
ion that this can only be done when
the taxpayers are vitalized by fine
abiding sense of individual response
bility and are willing to practice that
self denial in the administration of
public affairs that so many of us have
had to practice in our lives and busi-
ness as individuals.
Keeping within Ability to Pay
excepting within our ability to pay,
it should be the ambition of every
body to get the best possible results
from money expended. With the very
best business management possible, 1t
costs large amount of money to
maintain state and local governments,
to build and maintain highways. pro-
vide proper school facilities, maintain
penal and charitable institutions. pro-
tect the life and property Of our clti-
zens, pave and light public streets,
safeguard public health and provide
ample municipal sanitation, but If in
providing for these things we try to
keep pace with communities or states
whose ability to have and pay for is
far in excess of our own. we invite
financial disaster. We have Away
known, we always shall know and are