Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-23
CHAIRMAN STATE
ASSESSORS MAKES
ANSWER TO MCLEAN

"My attention has been called to a
communication from Mayor Mclean,
in which he criticizes the action OF
the Board Of State Assessors In the
valuation which they have placed up
on the property in the city OF Au-
gusta for purposes Of state and coun-
ty taxes for the year 1927 and 102S,'
asserts Hon. Clement S. Stetson,
chairman Of the Board Of State AS
SCISSORS, in a statement issued We'd
nesday.
II do not propose or intend to enter
into any newspaper controversy
simply wishing space to make a few
statements and give a few hgures,
which, perhaps will enlighten the
taxpayers of Augusta.
"For the past two years, the Board
of State Assessors have been dill
gently getting together data for the
purpose of placing values upon the
taxable property in the State. upon
which state tax will be assessed fol-
the coming two years. We believe
that the conclusions arrived at In
placing the values upon the different
cities and towns are as nearly equi-
table as it is possible for us to get
them. Four times in the past ten
years, the 3o"rd Of State Assessors
have placed a valuation upon the
property in the City Of Augusta, and
four times they have added very
materially to the local assessors
valuation. Each time that this has
been done, the local assessors have
met and increased this amount to
the extent - 1T the average yearly
increase of the local assessors val
uation over the State Assessors
valuation has been $10,967.90.
Mayor Mclean makes the state
ment that the State Assessors have
increased the valuation of the prop
erty in Augusta for purpos of taxa
ton, 100000. Our books show that
the state valuation, as placed by the
Board of State Assessors for the
years 1927 and 1928, is s12,596.366.
The return made to this Department
by the local assessors of Augusta,
show that their valuation in 1926
was 81, 947 ,596. showing that the in
creased amount placed on property
for the years 1927 and 1928 by the
Board of State Assessors is $64S,770,
and of this amount, 1885, 1000 is prop
erty exempted from taxation by the
city in direct violation of the state
laws The law requires that this
Board shall add to the valuation of
any city or town. the amount eX-
empted from taxation. This course
has been followed in Augusta for at
least ten years, and deducting the
$685., 900 from the total amount added
to $64S,770, we have s313,770 as the
actual amount added, upon which
any criticism could be made.
IF Mayor Mclean had seen fit to
consult the Board of State Assessors
before making his statement in the
papers, l think that we could have
convinced him that we have abso-
lutely treated Augusta, in the matter
Of placing values upon property, as
fairly, justly and equitably as We
have treated any other city or town
in the State of Maine, and If Mayor
Mclean in the future will insist that
the assessors place a value upon the
$4,000 worth of property that is il
legally exempted by the City, and
place tax upon the same, and if he
will diligently look over the new
buildings that are In process of con-
struction, and which will be COM
, pleted prior to April l, or nearly
completed, am very sure that he
will find at least 100000 worth of
taxable property, and there will be
no necessity for increasing the values
as placed upon property today, or
the tax rate of today.