Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1931-12-25
GOVERNOR WELL
PLEASED OVER
TAX REDUCTIONS

odAaiASA toAAo
lyzed the tax figures released by the
tax commission and found in them a
fulfllment of his pledge to reduce the
taxes throughout the state.
There is undisguised satisfaction in
the governors office. His party has
effected this reduction without a
sales tax and has imposed the taxes
upon wealth. The executive is not
afraid of the issue next year. He does
not believe that within or without
the party can there be successful at
tack on the tax policy.
He will match his own achieve
ments against the federal administra-
ton which, according to calculations
of tax experts, has made a drastic
cut" of l per cent. The North Caro-
lima executive is in position to SYM
pathize with Mr.. Hoover.
The most radical of all the Under
takings, the superimposition of 100
county road systems upon the state,
has carried no endorsements to Gov
ernor Gardner. He cites the Fl cents
road tax throughout the state and
points to its abrogation. The n in
crease in taxes was for debt service,
but that is state salvation.
Here is the way his excellency sees
it:
1.-THE tax reduction brought about
by the last general assembly, as
tabulated by the tax commission, is
very interesting in all its details and
clearly indicates the downward curve
of taxation on land and property in
North Carolina.
"As l understand the report from
50 counties, the last general assembly
reduced taxes on the average through
out the state 80 cents for schools and
II cents net for roads, or Fl cents
gross reduction for roads, making a
total nes reduction on the average OF
As n on assessed valuation of pro-
perty in this state for schools and
roads.
cit developed, however, that the
counties, many of them, in the past
had not levied sufficient taxes for
debt service, hat is interest and prin-
cipal on debt, and this year they
levied sufficient to take care of this
county obligation. This has resulted
in an average increase of 16 cents TOR
debt. This item of increase, which the
general assembly could not prevent,
has operated to keep the total reduc-
ton from being as large as it other
wise would have been from the saw
ings brought abeus4from roads and
schools.
1.-THE wisdom of the general assem-
bly, in taking over the roads at this
time has been made manifest BY con-
ditions in which we find ourselves. If
the counties had been forced to rely on
property taxes for road maintenance
this winter, we should find county
roads in many instances not main
tanned because of inability to collect
taxes, jails bullying with county pri-
soners, and county road machinery
run down and not in operation %
dition.
Except for the foresight and de-
termination Of the legislature to face
the facts and act accordingly the
taxes for this year would average
$50 instead of $1.06.
"In any event I do not hesitate
to say that the 1881 general assembly
reduced taxes on land and property
more than any legislature since the
establishment of she state, and no
other of the a state legislatures that
sat this year Appropriated anything
like the tax reduction made by the
representatives of the people of North
Carolina"
And here is the way it strikes DR..
Fred Morrison, secretary to the state
tax commission: .
"The 1881 tax rate for S3 counties,
released today by the tax commits
sion, show a straight average coun-
tywide rate for these counties in
1880 of $1.39 reduced in 1881 to
$1.O6. The tax reduction on property
for this year averaged 80 cents on
the 500 of assessed value as COM
pared with the 1880 rate.
"The assessed valuation for 40
counties, for which figures are avail
able, shows an average reduction OF
4 per cent. Therefore, if the. 1881
rates had been levied on 1880 values
which would show the correct actual
comparison of the 1880 and 1881
rates, the present average rate would
be $1.O2 instead of $1.06. The aver
age reduction in rate from 1880 to
1881 based on the same valuation
each year is, therefore, 81 cents for
the 80 counties.
1.-THE average reduction for the six
months school is 80 cents. The re-
duction for current operation of the