Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-02-11
BIG CROWD AT
TAX MEETING
Much Interest Shown in
Tax Matters at County
Wide Gathering.
Chief Purpose Was to Re-
duce Expenses; Wallace
Chief Speaker.

The countrywide tax meeting at
Pine City last Thursday was an en-
thusiastic affair. The court room in
the court house was filled to over
flowing with citizens and taxpayers
from all parts of the county, there
being between 800 and 400 people
present.
This being the regular meeting of
the board of county commissioners,
a few matters scheduled to be taken
care of right away were first disposed
of after which the chairman of the
board, Frank w. Stepan, Willow
River, bid the large delegation well
come.
A Welcome Delegation.
Mr. Stepan went on to say that this
is one of the most welcome delega-
lions that ever appeared before the
board, because the purpose of the
meeting is tax reduction. Ordinarily
the delegations appearing here are
asking for appropriations. The COM
missioner went on to say that the
board is human and does not want
to spend more of the taxpayers money
than is necessary. having turned down
many requests for money such as for
the agricultural extension work or
county agent the T. B. area test, the
county nurse, child welfare board,
weed inspectors, tax collector, snow
blowing, and others. In all, the ap-
preparations, if granted, would have
amounted to about ISL 900. They were
turned down because the taxpayers
could not stand the pressure.
Commissioner Stepan went on to say
that A. P. Jensen, Askov, announces
it would have cost him but 81 cents
additional in taxes if the county had
made an appropriation of $500 for
agricultural extension work. How
much more would his taxes have been
if all of the requested $4,000 appro-
priations had been made? asked the
commissioner.
County Levy is Cut.
Mr. Stepan stated that last July
when the commissioners made the
county levy for 1881 it was reduced
$4,000, thus lowering the coun-
ty tax rate more than three mills.
He advocated the same saving of
taxes by townships, villages and
school districts, some of which have
effected savings. The school tax is
usually the highest, next is the town.
ship or village, and the county and
state rates which are much lower are
separate and distinct from those.
The commissioner stated that the
county is on a cash basis with the
exception of the poor fund, and a
further reduction in the county tax
rate can be looked for next year if
some of the appropriations often
asked for can be avoided. 1t was also
brought out that due to the lower
assessed valuation of the county the
salary of the commissioners will au-
tomatically be lowered from $500 to
1925 this year.
Tax Commissioner Speaks.
George E. Wallace, member of the
Minnesota Tax Commission, then
spoke for over an hour and answered
many questions which were directed
~ IllC QucSIlOlS SOlllcLlllCS SOlll-
ing two or three at time.
Mr.. Wallace said that our system
of taxation is an antiquated one, and
we should have started the movement
to change it more than Is years ago.
In olden days we had only property
to tax-that which we can see-the
tangible property, but today there is
inf Uih 70
speaker went on to tell how some
years ago in this state when moneys
and credits were taxed as other prop
erty, the same mill rate as real and
personal property, it was in hiding
and folks did not give up the amount
OF moneys and credits that they pos
sessed. 1t then brought in about a
half million dollars in taxes in Min
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