Show W Chamber Body Asks 25 Per Cent Slash In Tax Valuations Committee Urges s Radical Action Action Action Ac Ac- tion to Prevent Taxpayers Taxpayers' Taxpayers Taxpayers' Taxpayers Taxpayers' Tax Tax- payers' payers Strike Outlining the probabilities of ot a taxpayers taxpayers' tax tax- taxpayers payers' payers strike with a resultant defaulting defaulting defaulting default default- ing of 30 to 40 per cent in taxes this year unless valuation reductions are granted a chamber of ot commerce committee com corn headed by Paul F F. F Keyser appeared appeared ap ap- ap- ap before the county commission Frida Friday We are arc not here on any basis of ot threat or in a spirit of ot passion but to 10 urge that something radical be done to relieve a serious situation n said Mr Keyser Other members of the group roup which asked a blanket reduction of 25 per percent percent percent cent in real estate valuations are arc Edward Edward Edward Ed Ed- ward M. M Ashton Blair Richardson and R. R A. A Hart A. A H. H Parsons former former former for for- mer county assessor accompanied ed the committee acting in an advisory capacity Mr Keyser outlined the investigation tion the thc committee had conducted stating tating that Salt SaIl Lake county assessments assessments assess assess- ments meats are being made on the basis of 70 per cent of ot value while assessments assessments assess assess- ments meats in other counties are being made at 50 per cent SOMETHING SOl G WRONG Something must be wron wrong when Salt Lake City property owners pay from to more into the state school fund than the community draws out of or th that t fund each year while a neighboring city pays less into the fund than it draws out said Mr Keyser To illustrate what he dec declared ared is a wide disparity between assessed valuations valuations in Salt Lake and Ogden Mr Ashton called attention to two apartment apartment apartment apart apart- ment houses both planned and constructed constructed constructed con con- by one contractor The apartment house in Salt Lake located on Second avenue is assessed higher than the apartment house in Ogden The structures are identical and were erected about two years ago said Mr Ashton County Assessor Joseph H. H was asked how much he has reduced valuations in Salt Lake during the past five tive years He said it had been about Mr Richardson reported existence oi Of a sentiment among taxpayers to 10 ip organize and refuse to pay taxes this year WOULD BE DISASTROUS Undoubtedly the sentiment grows out of recent difficulties in Chicago but regardless of ot where it originates it would be disastrous if carried out here said Mr Richardson A reduction of ot about in Salt Lake City real estate valuations now assessed at about would mean a reduction Of only 7 per percent percent percent cent in the assessed valuation of the county it was stated slated This said Mr Richardson would mean that departmental expenditures must be curtailed that much to meet the revenue available B. B F. F Quinn chairman of ot the commission com corn mission referred to a legal opinion given by the county attorney on May 6 6 1931 and stating slating the county board of equalization is without power to tomake tomake tomake make blanket cuts in valuations CAN EQUALIZE VALUES The same opinion however gives the board power to equalize valuations valuations valuations in one district or locality of the county with those of ot another district It was pointed out by Mr Ashton that under this opinion it would be possible possible pos pos- sible for the board to lower values lues by doing so 50 in one district at a time tune While we are asking only for reduction reduction reduction re re- re- re of ot values on real estate we also feel leel that valuations on improvements improvements improvements improve improve- ments are too high compared with assessments on this class of property in other communities of the state Mr Keyser said However there must be a starting place for making Salt Lake v valuations harmonize with valuations through the state and we have been informed by state officials that at least three years will be required required required re re- re- re to bring about this harmony Figures submitted by the committee commit commit- tee were taken under advisement by bythe bythe the he commission and it gave no indication indica indica- lion tion of ot how it would dispose of ot the matter |