The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-05-30
COURT ACTION THREATENED
AGAINST COMMISSIONERS TO
PROTECT TAXPAYERS RIGHTS.
Citizens Promised Support and Financial Backing
in Meeting at Kill Devil Hills Monday; Pledged
to Fight Unjust Discrimination In Taxing of
Property; Plans Discussed For Saving County
Money.

A meeting of some so citizens
and taxpayers of Dare County held
at Kill Devil Hills Monday night
in a two hour session, closed with
an organization having been form
ed, an executive committee named,
and a plan for conference with
attorneys, hopeful of Strengthening
out the tangle that has resulted
from what was called "an outrage
Gus and unjust attempt to impose
burdensome taxes on Dare Coun-
tvs citizens and other property
owners"
The meeting opened and Walter
D. Perry was unanimously elected
chairman and Miss Sarah Halli-
burton, Secretary. Messages were
delivered from numerous taxpayers
who, unable to be present, prom
ised financial support. Some of
these messages came from various
points in Dare County, including
the farthest point-Hatteras. 9th
ers came from Raleigh, Suffolk,
Washington, Elizabeth City, Nor
folk and elsewhere.
The invitation had been extended
to any and all property owners in
every part of Dare County, and
the attendance might have been
much larger but for rain and the
short notice that had been given
to the public. However letters and
messages continued to come in
next day, the Chairman reports.
Among the property owners at
tending this meeting were w. H.
McCown of Manteo, and F. V. Dun
stan of Elizabeth City, both prop
erty owners and attorneys. In at
tendance was County Tax Super
visor Pennel A. Tillett who was
welcomed for his courtesy and
knowledge and fine recollection of
figures in connection with the tax
appraisal.
Many property owners spoke of
the appraisal now being conducted,
all expressing the belief that it
was an incompetent job. Some said
they believed it unfair; others said
discriminatory.
Comment was made on the fact
that Commissioner Hallett Perry
had been able to get the entire
Board to visit Atlantic Township
for a two day inspection, follow
ing his complaint that his commu-
nifty had been Disseminated
against in relation to values set
in other communities.
Citizens of Kitty Hawk queried
Capt. Tillett, the tax supervisor,
if he knew the reason why values
in Wanchese had been on a parity
with those at Kitty Hawk, and in
their discussion, Capt. Tillett ex-
pressed the opinion that Wanchese
with about twice as many homes
as are in Kitty Hawk, had been
valued much below the value set
on the Kitty Hawk community.
From several persons came re-
ports of appraisals on adjacent
property being out of line, in that
one piece of property was valued
at, say, $500, another piece of
equal size at $2,400 and a third
piece adjacent at $4,000.
Homes too, it was reported, were
valued in some cases at twice their
original cost with no allowance for
depreciation. Business property in
some cases, was reported as hav-
ing been valued at double the value
of residential property, the same
being adjoining. Asked for an opin-
ion on this, Attorney Dunstan said
he believed this would not be sus-
tanned by law.
The general opinion of the meet
ing was that a strong organization
should be formed to aid in fighting
the battle of any citizen in any
part of Dare County who consider
ed himself the victim of discrimi-
nation.
At an early date, it is planned
to go before the County Board to
request a review and reduction
in connection with the situation.
Last week, the entire five Com
missiohers were in session all week
as week before, and spent upwards
of three days travelling in Allan
tic township, doing their politick-
ing for reelection at a cost of
$12 each and mileage per day.
Many promises were resulted, and
reductions made on thousands of
parcels of land, whereby instead of
being raised four times from the
prior assessment, it is now only
three times as much. Taxpayers
however protest that jumping the
property 800 per cent is just too
much at one time.
To achieve relief, several plans
See ACTION, Page Twelve !