Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-08-11
RESPITE ADDS HOPE TO
life BATTLE FOR REDS
County Tax Rate Cut
4 Cents; Values Lou

In addition to cutting the scale OF
property valuations l6 2-3 cents. the
commissioners court Of Cameron
county in session Wednesday cut the
tax rate four cents, to S1.06 per
sleG.
The tax rate is made on q basis
OF valuations of So 100000, 20 which
the county's to.al assessed value will
be reduced by the cut in the scale
OF valuations. Tha original scale
would have carried the values of the
entire county to S43.000,O1O, il was
estimated, or far il excess Of the
amoGrt needed.
Rate Includes Bond Ta=
In view Of the fact that an addi-
tioral % cents has been added TO
the tax rate in-orler 10 care for the
paving work on which contracts are
let, Judge Dancy said that the couu-
~ has been exceedingly fortunate in
that. the tax rate is not raised. but
lowered. and that the valuations
have been lowered, instead of raised.
the higher total being accounted for
by equalizstion-that is raising the
values of lands which have hereto
fore been valued low.
The county JUICE attributed the
lower tax rate in part to the collec-
tion Of delinquent taxes.
"Tke enormous increase in valua-
tions will be on account Of the tre-
mendous improvements and by equal
iZation." County Judge Oscar G.
Dancy said. LANDS near the high
way have not been bearing their
-
we are simply putting them up so
that they are in the same ration with
the farmer out in the mud. with his
$50 an acre land.
Valuations Sufficient
this lowering Of valuations should
give us around $32,00O.000 Of real
estate. IL was contemplated when
the read program was put On that
10 would take three years, two mil
lion each year until 1929. We have
already initiated the two million dol
lar program for this year. although
we have issued only one million in
bonds. We expect to date our next
bonds the first of January, or after
ward. ard levy the tax for 1928 for
only one million, which will amount
70 23 cents. Next year we will want
70 put on a pragram Of two million
dollars.
"The valuations this year will be
a plenty to carry out this program.
and whether or not We are permitted
70 carry IL out depends entirely upon
the attitude Of the directors Of the
water districts. Any three directors
Of any one OF the water districts Of
this county. IL so disposed, can thwart
the will Of the 1926 voter who voted
for the bonds. The commissioners
court of Cameron county can raise
the valuations a thousand per cent
and confiscate everybody's property
70 pay state taxes. and yet three di-
rectors by lowering the valuations
of water district TO just four times
the bonded indebtedness, could abso-
lutely and completely tie us up. II
is 2 tremendous power to be LODGED
IN three men. and | sincerely trust
and also pray that the power will
not be abused
Appeals TO District
There is a saturation point be-
yond which ever water districts can
not 20; but they will not need 70 go
beyond the saturation point. and
when The water district raises its
values il can lower its rates so that
not one cent more tax money is taken
out cf the tax payer than otherwise
would he taken out. Bat with coun-
~ valuations the proposition II en-
tirely different We can easily throw
away our donation. The donation is
now q paying investment to the state.
II was also finally determined
Wednesday to fix the county tax
rate az LOG per hundred which is a
cut Of I cents over last yea-. This
is almost equivalent to cutting 80
cents, as that cents added 70 the
23 cents tina IL takes to carry the
81 .OO0,0 900 or road honds. plus the in
direct expenses in the County Judges
and other offices. would make full
so cent cut know that our people
are sensible enough 70 know that we
can't eat our caae and have IL too.
Our people expected. when they v9t-
cd these bonds. that their taxes