The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-04-25

An approximate computation of
figures growing out of the 1858
tax listing in Dare County reveals
a property valuation doubling that
of 1857, or a total of close to 81
million dollars. The anticipated
tax levy this year will be over
100000 greater than last year.
The tax levy is expected to yield
well over a quarter of million
dollars. Some of the county funds
are running in the red; lot of
extra money is needed for schools,
and several county officials are
already licking their chops for con-
siderable increases in salary and
other expenses.
The bulk of this more than $780,
600 to be lifted out of the people
will be taken from the pockets of
those who have built new homes,
who own hotels and motels, sea-
shore cottages and unimproved re-
sort acreage.
In Atlantic Township, the valua-
ton has been jumped from six mil
lions to more than SIS million.
In Mays Head township, which
includes Roanoke Island, the valu-
ations have been jumped from
$5,977, 249 to $14,112,570.
Figures for other townships
were published last week. Even in
the smallest township in the Coun-
ty, Kinnekeet, the $4,000 in real
estate was raised to over a mil
lion dollars. Least hurt will be in
Chairman Claude Duvalrs terri
tory, where bulk of value is own
ed by one big timber company, on
whose payroll he has been contin-
uously since he gave them a big
cut in taxes five years ago.
The Commissioners met last
Friday and approved the work of
the New Jersey firm. And then
they followed with resolution to
cut their figures 70 per cent.
When the property has been cut
70 per cent in value, and the 70 to
rs cent tax rate is applied, as it
is reported this week the Board
intends to do, we will find in the
case of Atlantic Township alone,
that property owners in that area
will have to cough up an addl-
tional $4,000 for 1858 taxes.
A comparative amount will have
to be paid by the taxpayers of
Mays Head township, which has
the second longest beach area.
Here are the district real estate
valuations just tabulated in Mays
Head township:
N. Jersey 1857
Values Val.
Manteo white $3,6s6,020 2,941, 163
Manteo colored 251,910 144,753
Wanchese S44,18O 69l, 1888
Mays Head 9,330,46O 100000
Total 15,112,57O 5,977, 249
The total valuation last year was
S5,97Z,2 which included all per-
ssnal property. 1t is now more
than two and half times greater.
Now to analyze this proposed
tax rate of 20 cents. This is the
basic rate, and to it will be added
in all of Atlantic Township, Mays
Head township, Croatan and East
Lake TOWNSHIPS a tax to retire
some half million dollars in,
school bonds recently issued.
A tax should have been levied
on these bonds this year, but it
was held off, which amounts to
postponing larger pain to a date
less suitable for payment.
In the meantime, the appraisers
are continuing with the job this
week, just selecting few opera
lions Of businesses, which have
been brought to their special at
tention. Values are being placed
on these properties now when the
year is half gone, and when none
of them can know what the tax
payer had on January l, and this
is what taxpayers are submitting
to.
It's really giving concern to a
lot of people, now with $S7 mil
lion in property on the books to
play with, just how rank this board
might go next year, once the cleo
tions are out of the way.
--------7