The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-06-07

proximately 2h million dollars.
This year, 1852, the assessed val.
uation will run over forty million
dollarsl
Claude Gondolfo, Monroe County
Tax Assessor, has also given some
more amazing figures that show
the phenomenal growth of Key
West and the Florida Keys.
For instance. in 1871, the perso-
nal tax roll amounted to about
100000. In 1852, it will run over
$1,000, 900.
Homestead exemption valuations
have risen from one-half million
dollars In I941, TO over s., O00, 900.
this year.
Normally, figures do not mean
much to the average reader. How
ever, no one could glance at the
above statistics and not realize the
tremendous growth that has taken
place in Monroe County during the
past ten years.
Take homestead exemption as an
example.
Homes in Florida are exempt
from taxes up to the amount Of
$1,000. II the valuation for these
type homes was only hmillion dol
lars in l94I, can you imagine the
huge number that must have been
built since that date 10 bring the
total amount TO over nine millions
today?
Plating Land
For the past two and one-half
years, Claude Gandolfo and the
staff in his office at the Courthouse
have been busily engaged in an at
tempt to plat on maps all of the
land between Key Largo and Key
West. To do this their craftsman,
Donald cormack, has to work at
night. Old records, government
surveys. deeds, anything they can
lay their hands on that offer re.
liable information, are studied.
Though the work is far from be
Inc through, Mr.. Gandolfo and his
staff have every reason to be proud
az their accomplishments to date.
Complete plats Of the land In Mon
roe County will be something that
we've never had before and will
prove of inestimable value in the
future.
when Monroe County is proper.
" plated. we can name immedi,
ately the ownership and location
Of any piece Of property explain
ed Mr.. Gandolfo. This is the only
practical way to efficiently locate
and assess property
Endless Chain
Work continues in the Tax As
SCISSORS office in an endless chain.
AZ present the personnel consists
Of Mrs. Betty Curry. Mrs. Marie
Kraemer. Mrs. Ginny Redman. J.
Frank Roberts who has been with
the office for years, is away on
sick leave.
The City Of Key West keeps two
employees AT the Courthouse to
work in conjunction with the coun.
~. They are. MIR. Sam Plnder lr..
City Tax Assessor, and Mrs. Mary
Cruz.
Some idea Of the huge amount
OF detailed work that must be con.
Stantly kept up 20 date can be
gained when one considers that
there are forty thousand plates in
the addressograph system. These
must be kept in proper order and
whenever a piece of prupriy chan
geS hands, the plates must be
changed as yell as all Of the cor.
responding books.
Books q Maps
about all sou see when you walk
in the rear IT the Assessors office
are hooks aud maps. books and
maps. And they are not little baby
books but huge volumes that il
would take two men to carry about
Besides the regular assessment
books that hist location. ownership,
etc, Of real estate, there is spc
cial index book that must combine
ell of the other hooks IN alphabet,
cal order. Monroe County is one
Of the few places that stu main
tain an index record.
Blueprint Machine
Until recently il was necessary
10 send blueprint work TO Miami
10 be developed New the Cogniy
has It's own 0zalid Ssfeamliner
machine II has proven n hV q
Tremendous help as well as : time
sever. Contractors. planners. etc
about town find the machine an
advantage in their work TOO. The
County does their blueprint work
for them 81 cost.
Folks in Monroe County have
every reason to feel proud III their
Tax Assessor office and thg qaAi
ily as well as the quantity II wesk
il turns oal Few places IA TIE state
ns Florida can boast u 4 mere
modern AZ efficient 0n3s.