Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 94, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1916 — ASSESSMENTS of personal PROPERTY ARE LOWERED. [ARTICLE]

ASSESSMENTS of personal PROPERTY ARE LOWERED.

State Board Authorizes Deduction of 25 Per Cent When True Cash Value Is Given. Indianapolis, Feb. 21.—The state board of tax commissioners, in a letter to county assessors throughout the state, today announced that “on account of the low valuations made in the assessment of real estate, it has been agreed that 25 per cent shall be deducted from the assessment of the true cash value of personal property for the purpose of equalization, but it must be understood that the true cash value is the basis of assessment, otherwise the 25 per cent should not be deducted.” Wherever the focal assessor be-

lieves that the one assessed is not giving the true cash value or is concealing information necessary to arrive at this, he should not make any deduction if he feels that the valuation ’does not represent- the true cash value, the board said. “Jn other words,” the letter said, “we want Ito impress upon you to your assessors that there shall be no deduction for equalization unless the true cash vallie is the basis of assessment.” The board continued: ‘‘We also insist that statements must be sent to us of (lie average assessments made by your township assessors of the different classes of personal property as has been the order of this board in the last two years. The blanks will bo furnished you by the county auditor to make such reports. These statements should be furnished us at least every two weeks after the assessing period has begun. In making these reports we want the net assessment or the amount that is to be placed Upon the duplicate.”