The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-04-17
THIS LAW MAKES COLLECTION OF
TAXES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE

''Wrecking Tax Collections" is the way
The Durham Sun refers to law which
has been enacted by the Legislature. This
is the law governing the collection OF taxes
The views of the Durham newspaper coin
eide with the opinions of other newspapers
and many citizens of the State, including,
no doubt. large majority of municipal
and county officials The Durham Sun pre-
sents the matter of the effect of this law
upon the collection of taxes in the follow
ing paragraphs:
The non-payment of taxes has been made 50
simple and inexpensive by the present legislature
that the counties, which have been calling for state
assumption to local burdens have awakened in
greatest alarm to the fact the eager solons have
carried things too far.
"a bill H. R. 1853 has been passed and ratified
which, if allowed to remain unamended on the
statute books when the present assembly winds up
its business and goes home will probably mean
default for every county and city in North Caro-
lima.
''It provides that counties shall not advertise
delinquent property for foreclosure and sale. In
stead. delnquents shall be notified by mail that
their property will be docketed in the January fol-
lowing and that two years from docketing be sold.
Penalties for the two-year period within which the
property may be redeemed before final sale will,
under the BILL amount to only six per cent inter-
est, or twelve dollars on each hundred dollars in
taxes owed.
at is obvious that, if \ taxpayer may delay pay
Inent of taxes for two years at the cost of only
six per cent on the amount owed few are going
to pay their taxes when due. Industries are not
likely to borrow money to pay their taxes since,
in the present money market they can use six per
cent money to advantage themselves. Railroads,
commercial houses and large real estate specua-,
tors, as we'll as the individual small taxpayer,
all of whom hope they may be in better shape
year or two from now, will let the counties whistle
for their money.
Particularly is that so because the bill dspenses
with advertising The advertising of property does
two things It affects the pride aud affects the
credit of taxpayers, corporation individual
Commercial houses insurance companies, in
dustries even railroads can i'll afford to have the
fact advertised that they have not paid taxes. 1t
isn't good for their financial rating or public stand
ing. Individuals an extremely reluctant to be list
ed among dernquents They will most often pay
when they can, rather than face the publicity. Ad
vertisng therefore, is one Of the most powerful!
levers in the hands of the respective boards of
county commissioners in compelling payment Of
taxes which must be collected if the counties arc
TO meet their obligations.
Counties cannot wait two years to collect taxes.
They most likely would be thrown into something
very closely resembling bankruptcy before the end
of that time. Without tax receipts, they cannot
meet current and maturing obligations Certainly
they viii not be able to borrow money, if it is
they already owe
"The legislature has been led by those deter
mined to exade all land taxes into most serious
blunaer. If an amendment, now pending, is not
accepted bySthe state house and senate, it is diff
cult to imagine what will happen to city and
ty budgets and credit