The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-02-14

county was around twenty million
dollars; and
Whereas, the assessed value of the
real estate of said county is now only
about three million dollars, and cattle
are selling in said county on the mar
kct at from one and one-half to three
cents per pound gross; and
Whereas, for the past several years
the citizens of Ashe County have been
unable to realize enough from the
products of their farms to support
themselves and pay their taxes; and
Whereas, there remains unpaid and
uncollected a large per cent of the
taxes in said county for the years of
one thousand nine hundred and twen-
ty-seven, one thousad nine hundred
and twenty eight, one thousand nine
hundred and twenty-nine, one thou
sand nine hudred and thirty, one
thousand nine hundred and thirty
one, one thousand nine hundred thir-
ty-two, one thousand nine hundred
and thirty-three, and nearly one-half
of the homes of the citizens of said
county have already been sold for
delinquent taxes, and foreclosure
proceedings are now pending against
said delinquent taxpayers; and
(. Whereas, practically all of the
owners of real property in said coun-
ty by reason of said conditions are
unable and it is believed will for some
time, and during the continuance of
said economic depression, be unable
to meet the payments of the interest
and principal upon the bonded in
debtedness of said county and retain
their home; Now therefore,
1t is believed, and the Legislature
of North Carolina hereby declares
that the conditions existing as here
inbefore set forth has created an
economic emergency of such nature
that justifes and renders valid legis-
lation for the purpose of extending
the time for the payment of both
principal and interest of the bonded
indebtedness of the County of Ashe;
Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North
Carolina do enact:
Section /. That the Board of Com
missioners of the County of Ashe is
hereby authorized, empowered and
directed to make such levies for the
debt service and all necessary county
expenses, for the County of Ashe for
the years of one thousand nine hum
dred and thirty-fve and one thousand
nine hundred thirty-six as in their
opinion and discretion that the tax
payers of said county are able to pay
and retain their homes, not to exceed
one dollar and forty cents on the one
hundred dollars assessed value Of all
the real and personal property in said
county for said years.
Sec. 2. That the Board of Commits
sioners of the County Of Ashe are
hereby authorized, empowered and di-
rected to make such settlement and
adjustment of the bonded indebted
ness of the County of Ashe, both as
to principal and interest, with the
bond holders of said county, as in
their opinion the taxpayers of said
county may be able to pay, and to
issue new bonds of the county in
exchange and in settlement of the
old bonds, and upon such terms as to
payment and rate of interest as may
be agreed upon by said bondholders
and said Board. 1t being the purpose
of this section of this act to enable
the Board of County Commissioners
of the County Of Ashe to refund the
present bonded Indebtedness of said
county upon such terms both as to
interest and pricipal of said indebted
ness, so that the County of Ashe may
be able to pay the same without de-
fault as to such adjusted indebted
ness.
Sec. 8. That after the years of one
thousand nine hundred thirty-five and
one thousand nine hundred thirty-six
it shall be the duty of the Board of
County Comissioners of Ashe to find
as fact annually before making the
annual tax levy for said county
whether said economic emergency
still exists, and if it-shall appear to
said Board that the prices of cattle,
potatoes nd cabbage or the basic
farm products and sources Of revenue
~ co;J oo,,,,%1, hove vo+r,r,ood m tho