Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-09
VIRGINIA TAX PLAN
SAVES $1,569,S83
Gov. Byrd, in Statement, Re-
veaIs Huge Economies
in Government.

BY the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va, July "Details
of the saving to taxpayers Of the state
aCgregating $1.70l,7l2.22. of which
Si.5G9. SS3.07 is due completely TO the
new tax plan. were released here last
night in a statement to the Associated
Press by Gov. Harry +. Byrd. This
statement Is in accordance with tables
prepared by Tax Commissioner &. IL.
Morrissett and sets forth tax reduc-
tions on land and tangible personal
property made possible by the new
system Of taxation effective january
/. 1927. .
'In 1927" the statement said. the
State tax on land and tangible per-
sonaf property of % cents per 500
of assessed value was completely re-
pealed. Today no State tax exists in
Virginia on this class of property.
''In certain localities the State tax
repealed was reimposed by the city or
county for local purposes and more
revenue attained without increasing
the previous combined State and To-
cal rate. It is conservatively estl-
mated that one.half million dollars
relieved by the States above the losses
of such localities by segregation was
reimposed by the locality without in
creasing the previous tax burden
Forty.five counties and three cities
removed the entire 25-cent tax. Ninety
counties and eight cities will enjoy
tax reduction.
Land Owners Benefited.
at am gratifled that the first large
tax reduction will be made to land
owners. This will give greater relief
to the farmers than all the patent
medicine remedies suggested, land Will
relieve the householders generally.
I'm addition to the removal of the
State tax on land and tangible per
sonal property and enabling substan-
tial reli,' to such taxpayer the fol-
lowing additional taxes were reduced:
Notes, bonds and other evidences of
debt, from SIS cents TO so cents per
500: Virginians owning stock in for
eign corporations, from $1.10 to SO
cent? per s100; capital engaged in
business, from S1.15 to So cents per
500: To- due to segreatinc machinery
to locality. net loss, S137, 3S7.04.
Excepting an equalization OF GER
tain railroad taxes the only general
tax increase in Virginia during my
term has been the increase just noted
above in income taxes, and this in
crease was dedicated to reduction in
above mentioned capital taxes, in line
with progressive taxation policy, so as
to invite new capital and new resi-
dents into Virginia. The increase in
motor taxes could not be considered
as a general tax increase, as such tax
Is dedicated to roads. directly bene-
fitting those who pay the tax.
Assembly Is Praised.
"T congrat,Ilate the General Assem-
bly, in adopting this plan of taxation,
which has operated so admirably the
first year.
"The deficit of $1.SOo,Oo0 March 1,
1926, has been converted into sub.
stantial surplus.
TAX reduction has been made pos
sible without retarding the progress
of the State. In fact, Virginia, in all
her essential activities, has never ad-
vanced to the extent of the progress
made in the past two years. Rural
schools and rural roads have received
Increased appropriations. But to me
the chief value of the segregation tax
plan Is the equalization of taxes
brought about by the removal
of the State tax on land as
sessed on values varying from 10 to
20 per cent of actual value. State
unity has been measurably promoted
and friction between localities
quieted.
I'm addition to the tax reductions
already made l will show in detail
in my speech at Madison Court House
on July Is the economies Of the two
sessions Of 1926 and 1927. which will
make possible a further State tax
reduction at the session Of 1928 Of
at least $750,000 yearly, providing due
economy is exercised in appropria-
tons"
The following cities did not COM
pletely reimpose the 25-cent State tax
reduction: the net reduction and saw.
ings to the taxpayers is herewith
listed: Alexandria, 10 cents, $12 ,902. 4S;
Bristol, 25 cents. $17,151.63; Char
lottesville, Is cents, $19,46S62: Cliff
ton Forge, 25 cents. $12,644.22: Dan
vile. rs cents. $63,S0S.53; Fredericks-
burg. Is cents, $8,19674; Norfolk. 6
cents, $103.578.S1; Portsmouth. S
cents, $18.072.89. The total savings
Of these cities was $255,823.92.
The net tax reduction and the
amount Of saving in counties near
Washington follow: Arlington, az
cents, S9,503.62: Fairfax. Is cents,
$35, 1928; Fauquier, 6h cents, &c.
O72.07; Loudoun, 5 At cents. $S.377.98;
Prince William, IA 1.6 cents, $9,124.85.
The total savings to taxpayers in
tho various counties aggregated
1874 .059.15.
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