The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1939-05-18

cities are likely to get the same
idea, and even though Sank Centre
might today be on as low an aver
age base as possible, still If many
cities in our class decide upon a
general reduction for 1910, we
would then be upon too high base
unless we reduced values at the
same time. I learned only Satur-
day that Alexandria has made a
substantial cut either in 1888 or
1885; If our values are too high,
then we are helping some other
cities to pay their state and coun-
ty taxes. To my mind this Is a
most vital problem, and one which
justifies a considerable effort to as
certain just how far we can go.
We want to pay our full share, yes,
but we do not want to pay any
more. Now is the time to gather
this information, for 1910 will be
upon us before long.
The Journal article indicates that
Sank Centre values may be upon
about the same base as Minneapol-
is values following of course for
the difference in size of cities).
For instance, quote the following
paragraph:
IF a fair tax on income produc-
ing property were about 10 per cent
of its gross income, and if that
property is forced to pay double
that amount, a large part of the
ownership of the property is con-
fiscated."
This paragraph indicates that
Minneapolis income property taxes
are approximately SO per cent of
the gross income, which is one way
of saying that it takes over four
months rent for taxes. I have
often made the statement that Sank
Centre income property taxes takes
from three to five months gross
rent, which averages the same.
The survey further states that
Minneapolis has reduced its valua-
tions only Is per cent between 1929
and 1885, whereas other large cities
have reduced their valuation up to
SAL per cent. There are many 9TH
err quotations which I would like
to include, but I will only quote
one other item from the article,
namely: I'm the last eight or nine
years, real estate values have been
steadily falling. THEY NOW BEAR
NO DEPENDABLE RELATION
TO COST OR ASSESSED VALUA-
TON"
This problem is of interest to
every tax payer. am satisfied
that an investigation of the Sank
Centre situation would justify help
full change for 1910. Almost all
the present local objections to tax
es are really objections which ap-
ply equally to all tax payers, a
situation which cannot be remedied
by either the City Council or the
Assessor, and while the measures
of relief in 1910 may not be very
great, still any relief will help, for
a very small percentage reduction
in valuation means thousands OF
dollars saving to local tax payers.
With particular reference to the
local situation as to what has been
the valuation reduction in Sank
Centre realty during the last ten
years, some pieces have been re-
duced, but has this reduction been
general? For instance, one piece
was valued last year at $1,000, a
reduction from the 1886 valuation
of $149O, the 1884 valuation of
$500, the 1882 valuation of $1765,
and the 1880 valuation of $1700
1 do not believe that reductions
have generally been anywhere near
as much as this particular tract
given above. This same tract also
confirms the Minneapolis Journal
statement given above to the effect
that no dependable relation exists
to cost or assessed value. There
is no dependable relationship of
cost or assessed value to the pres
ent value, for this property sold
for $3.50. I doubt if there has been
a single sale of Sank Centre real