The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-17

For valuations nave dropped
with plummet-like speed in
contrast to soaring tax rates.
Unbelievable as it may seem, The
valuation of Indianapolis property
on the tax records today is S82,-
349 $40 less than it was in, 1919.
According to public records, the
value of taxable property in the city
today is SSH, 162,7l0. In 1919 it
was 1893, 512,55O.
The Indianapolis tax rate in Gen.
ter township for 1884 has been set
at S3.13 Fourteen years ago, it was
only S160. Numerous factors have
contributed to the increased tax
rates, but tax experts agree on one
point-too much property does not
appear on the tax duplicates to bear
its share of the cost of government.
Peak Reached in 1880
AS a matter of fact, indianapolis
reached it's peak of valuation in
1890 with $691 ,336,210 on the books.
Then a rapid decline set in, down
to $674 $50 ,24O in 1881, still further
to S571 ,236, 430 in 1882, until the 1888
valuation of $511, l62,710 was
reached.
With each years falling valua-
tons. the tax rate has increased,
although public officials have point
ed to important reductions in
budgets. Mayor Reginald H. Sulli-
van claims a reduction of $1,800,000
in expenditures since 1890, yet today
the city is faced with a $131 tax
rate for 1884, cents higher than
this year.
Cite Conflicting Authority
According to authorities who have
studied the question and delved
into the record books, there are
three main barricades which block
the way to increasing property
valuations and, as a natural result,
lowering the tax rate.
First, and described as the most
formidable, is the exemption of
charitable, educational and fra
ternal property from taxation. More
than $4,000, 900 in property, capable
of bringing in 81 .252,OO0 in revenue
and reducing the 1884 tax rate 24.6
cents, is kept from the tax dupli-
Gates because of these exemptions.
Second obstruction is the diff
Guilty in getting all property, not
exempt and available for taxation,
on the records.
Fifty Cases Before Board
Third is the conflicting authority
which exists in establishing the val
uation which shall be used in levy
ing taxes
If the figure established by the as
SCISSOR is not satisfactory to prop
erty owners. an appeal is taken to
the board of review, who may, and
many times has, overruled the as
SCISSOR.
II the board of review upholds the
assessor. the state tax board re-
mains as a final resort. An unofficial
calculation of part of the orders
issued by the state tax board last
year shows that S2,2S9,S6 was cut
from valuations by this method. If
taxed at the 1882 rate of 1882. this
property would have yielded nearly
SOS 900 in revenue.
Wages Many Battles
In support of his contention that
the assessor is best fitted to judge
property valuations. John c. Nc
Closkey, Center township assessor
has waged many battles with the
board of review and the state board.
According to records, the 1888
net property valuation Of that part
of indianapolis located in Center
township is S497, $50 less than N
1882.
However, the valuation of per-
sonal property decreased s56 S97, 040,
accounting for the greater portion
of the S60073.720 valuation drop
cited by public officials as cause of
the tax rate rise.
Board Defends Alterations
When nearly S57,0O0,OOO was
taken from tax duplicates in per-
sonal property. due &c changing over
TO the intangible tax system, the de-
crease in merchants inventories
and generally depressed business
conditions, We were then engaged in
revaluing real estate" Mr.. McClos-
key said. IF our figures had not
been ready to take up the slack. the
tax rate would have been greatly
increased, because there would have
been nothing to replace the loss
In personal property valuation.
Members of the board of review
defend their alterations of McCloS-