New Britain herald., 1927-07-28
GROWING LEVIES
 CAUSING ALARM
Blodgett Comments on Increased
 Assessments

Hartford, July 2s R-Large in- creases in local tax levies during the past three years are viewed with alarm" by Tax Commissioner William H. Blodgett in a pamphlet just issued by his department giving information relative to the assess ment and collection of taxes.
 The grand levy in all local con- necticut taxing districts for the year ending March 3l, 1926 was So9,- 5s1,957 as compared with s56,sSS,- 577 the previous year and S5l,- 597,251 in 1924, according to the pamphlet. On the 1926 levy the sum of s55,92S,3S2. including in terest and lien fees, was collected by the 341 municipalities in the state.
 The total amount paid in taxes ln Connecticut during the year was s116,5S5,242. This included that collected by federal government state. counties and local mun,clpal- tics. Commissioner Blodgett points out that AIS per cent Of the total was collected by local municipalities and says that since the amounts collected in local taxes are nearly equal to the combined amounts col lected by the state and federal gov crnment, the local assessment ana collection of taxes should have the most painstaking study" At pres ont. he says, Tit may well be ques- 'ioned if many of our local munl- cipalities are following a sufficient- ly far-sighted policy in their distrl- button of taxes
 In the year ending June 3o' 1920 the federal government collected ss5.536.s25 in Connecticut of which s2e,oo1,S46 represented the income tax. The state recelVeu s17.462,12o in regular taxes and 5ss47S9 in motor vehicle regis ,ration fees. a total of s2S,346,aos. The sum of sS66.0O2.52 was receiv- ed by the eight counties in taxes.
 Pointing out that under the gen. eral statutes revaluatlon or all real estate must be made every ten years and that nearly every town in the state must make such re- valuation February 1, 193o, Com- missioner Blodgett recommends that as soon as possible each munlclpal- itv anproye of the election or ap- pointment of special tax commas sion to consider the best means or revaluing the property. Recent re- valuations in several towns show that the grand list is materially ln- creased in most cases and that tax burdens are considerably shifted, he says.
 "The farmer who has large amount of tangible property Whlcn cannot evade taxation and large acreage of nor- productive property is in practically every case bearing more than his fair share of the tax burden." the commissioner finds.
 Combined figures for seven towns which have recently had revaiua- lions show that the farmer, on property other than his home, IS now. bearing only G5 per cent or inc tax burden which he carried hefore the new assessments. Home owners are carrying Ill per cent Of their former burdens and manu- lecturers S1 per cent.
 The 1.50O assessing and collect ing officials in the state are Tn many instances receiving "pitiably small" compensation, according to Commissioner Blodgett. He points out that inadequate compensation tends to result in slovenly work which in turn results in inequitable assessments and large amounts or uncollected taxes. Praise is given to the officials for "the excellent work which they have done in spite of in adequate compensation, in many cases, and lack of proper equip ment." So excellent is their work said to be in proportion to their re- muneration that the commissioners says it has been labor of love-