Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1903 — ABOUT THAT TAX LEVY. [ARTICLE]

ABOUT THAT TAX LEVY.

In publishing the tax levy made by the county council at He late meeting, the A Remington Press (republican) says In excuse for the high levy: "Taking into consideration the increase in the appraisement of country real estate and improvements, this makes the levey higher than last year, but this step was necessary owing to the maturing of some of the court house bonds this year.” Now let’s see if this is trne. The total valuation of the connty is nearly $2,000,000 greater than it was last year or the preceding few years, in fact the increase in valuation is nearly one-fifth. It has also been said by some that “new bridges” is the cause for keeping the levy np to its old figure, or practically so, and, that bur readers and the taxpayers of the.county generally may see how much truth there is in either of these statements, we publish the appropriations made for new bridges and the levies for “court house bond” purposes by the council of 1900 and that of 1903; 1900. Appropriated for new bridges 17,100.00 TAX LEVY. Court house bonds 14 cents Gravel Road Repairs 3*6 “ County Fund levy 17 “ Total levy 1900 34*6 cents 1903. Appropriated for new bridges ...$7,600.00 TAX LEVY. Court house bonds 13 cents County Fund , .....36*4 Gravel Road Repairs 00 “ Total levy 1903 49*4 cents The above figures were taken direct from the County Council Record, and are authentic. It will be seen that in 1900, with a valuation about $2,000,000 less than now, the levy for court house bonds was 14 cents, 1 cent higher than for 1903; that 3J cents was levied for gravel road repairs, and, as nothing whatever was levied this year for such latter purpose, the 1900 council (non-partisan) levied for conrt house bonds and gravel road repairs cents more than the 1903 council (republican) levied for court house bonds alone, and the total levy for all purposes made by the 1900 council was but cents.

It will also be seen that the 1900 council appropriated 17,100 for new bridges, while the 1903 council only appropriated $7,600, or but SSOO more. It would seem, therefore, that the increase is not due to either court house bonds or new bridges. It will be observed, however, that the 1900 levy for the county fund was 17 cents, while the 1903 levy is 36J cents, or more than twice what it was in 1900. From the county fund all the grafts, etc., are paid, and if our assessed valuation has increased 1-5 and our tax levy more than doubled, it would be inferred that the old regine of grafting is once more in full force and effect.