The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1938-07-21
The Proposed Homestead
Exemption
BY W.. N. Taylor, Former Senator
18th District

1 very much fear that the governor
and members of the Legislature have
not thoroughly considered all the inn
plications and serious complications
tina may arise from the proposed
exemption of homesteads from local
taxation. The purpose of this arti-
Gle is to call attention to some of the
possibilities.
/. One of the first results to fol-
low the passage of the act will be
me transformation into homesteads
Of practically all residences in our
owns and cities now on a rental
Sasis. Also, it may reasonably be
expected that farm property row
,ented to tenants will soon appear on
ne tax rolls as homesteads. / do
lot believe that the Legislature can
ind a legal way whereby the shift
ng of taxable property TO non-tax-
bic homesteads can be prevented.
rhus the Legislature will need to re-
Use upward estimates now made of
he amount of money needed 10 re-
lace lost local revenue, and to look
or new state taxes for such replace
aent.
:. 1t is stated that lost local
ues win be replaced largely from
n estimated treasury surplus. Grant
ng that this may be done for the
iennium beginning July l, 1888 tal-
1ough / do not so concede) what is
o be done for the biennium begin
ling July 1, 1910? There may be no
reasury surplus at that time The
resent surplus has been built up
yer a period of years, chiefly through
revenue structure enacted in 1892
nd through economies put into ope-
nation at that time. 1t will be most
Unfortunate if legislation is now en-
cted of so radical a nature as to
urn the whole structure topsy-turyy.
8. 1t is stated that several of the
appropriations for the forthcoming
biennium are non-recurring; thus
CdNih6 iiOipNt ~ q aSdooA
FOR use in replacing lost revenue. I'm
fortunately, there is no such thing
IS a homecoming appropriation.
They all recur, and usually in in
creased amounts. 1t is worse than
lnwise; it is downright silly to build
cast.
4. Presumably, present plans call
,or replacement of lost local revenues
on the basis of present tax rates IN
he counties. municipalities and dis
ty or district wants TO expand some
Of it's existing services so as to re-
auire increased rates of taxation. VIII
the legislature also replace additional
revenue for the additional services,
"a must the local units of govern
ment depend solely on the non-ex-
empt property for such additional
revenues?
s.. In some counties and in some
municipalities local government is OPP
Grated in a business-like and eco
nomical manner In others graft and
extravaganza prevail. The state pro-
| 1osed to replace ALL revenu lost
rom homestead exemption, placing
local units of government where ex
ravagance, graft and corruption ex-
ist on exactly the same basis as those
hat are honestly and economically
managed. This is not only bad gov
ernment; it is also bad ethics.
s. In my humble judgment the
passage of this proposal will not make
the home owner n more secure in
the possession of his home. When a
1ome or farm is lost, in nearly all
cases the question of taxes is not
he fundamental cause. Other fac
sors not to be affected by the pro-
2osed homestead exemption law are
Usually responsible for the loss Of
homes.
In this connection, it is we'll to re-
member that Mississippi homes have
'ad a substantial tax reduction in
ecent years through exemption from
state levies, through reduced valua-
ions, through reduced local levies
IN many places, and through COM
,lete exemption from all taxes of per-