The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-03-30
TAX>GRAM

FLORIDA TAX REVISION LEAGUE

It is probable that most tax
payers who take the time during
TAX INFORMATION WEEK.,
TO study our tax situation, as they
should, viii be impressed by the
impossibility Of securing complete
and current information. 1t is q
very discouraging job to try to get
q concise, complete, accurate and
up-to-date statement Of the total
tax revenue collected and spent by
our state, county, city, and other
units of local government.
State departments do issue re-
ports, usually six months to a year
late, which tell the story if one is
willing to take the time to sep
arate the simple facts from the
complicated detail and just plain
propaganda Most state depart
ments seem to think it necessary
to load their reports with propa-
ganda TO impress the public with
the Importance Of their depart
ment, why it should be enlarged
or attempt to explain and justify
the fact that it has already been
enlarged.
But, when it comes to county,
city, or other local units of gov
eminent, information is almost nil.
Few of them make any complete
reports to any central agency or
to the local taxpayers, other than
condensed legal advertisements of
their budgets, which are usually of
little value.
The latest complete and detail
report on the cost of local govern
ment was compiled by the u. S.
Department Of Commerce for the
year 1881. At that time local
units of government in Florida
were costing the taxpayers about
SIS, 900, 900 per year. What local
government cost for 1887 is a
deep dark secret which no one
knows.
1t is known, however, that 1900
overlapping boards and commits
sions still have authority to levy
ad valorem taxes on property.
without limit, and authority to
spend the revenue thus raised. IL
Is also known that this power 10
tax" has already been used to
destroy" property values in Flor
ida IL is now about to destroy
our entire economic set-up.
The worst single feature of the
ad valOrem property tax is the
fact that Il is degrading the lives
Of every man, woman. and child in
the State, regardless of whether
or not they own property or have
ever seen a tax collector. II you
rent a little home or apartment
for $1,000 per month-an average
of 5000 of that rent goes 10 the
tax collector, not your landlord.
And, If You look closely you wiz
find ad valOrem taxes HIDDEN"
IN every article you, hny from
hairpins TO automobiles.
The consumer payS the taxes in
the last analysis regahdfess 81 how
It is levied or collected, or what il
IS called But, the ad yalorem tax
Is the most Ubiquitous of all be-
cause Il IS levied without limit by
1900 boards and completely ibid
den' from the consumer who pays
it. Our ad valorem method of
taxing property is not only anti
qusted and obsolete but has been
patched. confused, abused. mis-
applied, lodged. and evaded By
legislators. administrative officials.
and politically favored taxpayers
until it has become the most IN
just. inequitable and thoroughly
DEGRADING system Of TAXATION I'M
aginable-
Our Anticipated ad vaiOrem tax
system Is the milestone around the
neck Of Florida today. II we
abolish i by constitutional amend
ment the sound expansion and de-
veloDmenf in Florida a. direct re-
SEX WI make the real estate boom
Of tcn years ago look insigni ficanf
, p seoaPaFif9g
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