The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-12-09
SUMMARIZING,
new TAX DATA
Comparison OF Collections
And Removal OF School
Tax To Be Studied


are now being tabulated by the
sales tax division Of the depart
ment of revenue showing both
the collections Of the sales tax
by counties, together with the
! property tax reduction in each
Of the counties resulting from
the removal Of the state 10 cents
tag for schools and other sPe-
cial school taxes, which are eX-
pected to make those who are
still kicking about the sales tax
sit up and take notice, 1t was
learned here today. None OF
these figures have been an
nounced as yet, but it has been
learned that the comparison CT
sales tax collections with the
amount Of property tax reduction
IL the counties, based on the
sales tax collections during the
first three months, are regarded
as highly satisfactory by Cover
nor J. C. 3. Ehringhaus. Con-
missioner of Revenue A. j. Max
we.l and Director Harry McMul-
Ian of the Sales Tax Division.
The list Of sales tax collections
based on the first three months,
has been completed for several
weeks. and the estimated coliec-
tons from the counties for the
entire year are being based on
the average for the first quar-
ter. But It has been necessary
to wait until the counties fixed
their various tax rates for the
coming year in order to compare
them with the tax rates last year
and thus determine the amount
of tax reduction in each comfy
as compared with last year. But
most OF the counties have now
fixed their tax rates for next
year, so that this list is about
completed. The removal of the
former statewide property tax
of Is cents for school purposes
is also being taken into conSid-
Grafton, as well as the removal
Of all county or district school
taxes for the extended term.
The result of the comparison
Of these figures, according 70
some who have seen them for
some Of the counties, shows that
the reduction in property taxes
in many counties is much great
er than has been anticipated.
They also show that the revenue
from the sales tax has been much
less in many counties than was
expected and that as a result
the savings between the former
property taxes and the taxes be-
inc paid under the sales tax, are
much greater than had been an
ticipated.
The only definite comparative
figures for any particular. county
now known to the writer, are for
johnson county, in which a week
" paper published there recent
! " stated that the county was
now paying the sales tax at the
rate of $4,000 a year and get
ting only $4,000 a year IN
property tax reduction. But the
figures compiled by the sales tax
division show that sales tax col
lections in Johnston u n y
amounted to $9,657 for the first
three months, on the basic of
which the yearly total is estl-
mated at $4,000. On the other
hand, a comparison of the prop
erty tax levies in Johnston coun-
ty shows that the current levy
for general county purposes IS
$4,000 less than last year,
while the removal Of the IS cents
tax for schools took off another
| S61,106, giving a total property
tax reduction of $159,56 as
compared with the sales tax
which will amount to about S4O,-
900 a year. This gives a net
difference or saving of Sll9,-
$50, in property taxes, showing
that the property owners Of the
county last year paid $119, 5S2
more in ad valorem taxes than
they will pay this year in sales
taxes.
The figures are known appro-
ximately for one other county
a small county in the eastern
part of the state. The revenue
from the sales tax in that county |
for the first three months has
been approximately $4,000, IN
dicating that total of about
$4,000 year can be expected
from the sales tax in that coun-
ty. Yet the reduction in prop
ertv taxes in that same county
resulting from the removal 81
the Is cents school tax and 9th
er special school taxes, will
amount to approximately $50
600. the figures show, or a net
saving of about $4,000 a year.
In the counties in which the
larger cities are located and
which have larger populations,
the difference is not expected
to be so marked, Of course. But
even in these, it is understood,
the figures show a very salts
factory comparison. |