Show POSSIBLE CUT CUI CUTIN CUTIN IN TAX RATES U INVESTIGATED Officials Officials' U Uncertain in on Probable Benefits of Plan By AL FERGUSON Levy reductions which maybe may maybe maybe be made by the state municipalities municipalities municipalities and s schools this year year are the only ones likely to inure inure inure in in- ure to the benefit of ot Salt Lake c co o 0 u n t y t taxpayers through a increase in 1936 assessed va valuation it appeared Monday The assessed valuation of 23 reported Saturday after Assessor Assessor Assessor As As- sessor A. A J. J Skidmore completed appraisal appraisal appraisal ap ap- ap- ap of real Nal estate improvements personal property and livestock when added to the appraisal by the state tax commission of mines and utilities produced the highest valuation valuation valuation val val- val val- since 1932 Valuations reported thus far for 1936 are also minus the property listed in appendix rolls which are arc not completed led until late in Decem Decem- ber Last year the appendix rolls added nearly in assessed valuation to taxable property in inS S Salt Lake r Officials Jubilant Salt Lake City city schools and county taxing officials were jubilant jubil lant l nt over the reported increase in valuations Probability ty of a reduction this year in the tax levy lev of mills 1310 per 1000 assessed asse ed valuation for Salt Lake City and 1115 mills 1115 per 1000 assessed valuation for city schools set In 1935 was qualified with by emphatic maybe by officials of both taxing units Salt Lake Lako county officials were even more discouraging At this time and of course it is impossible for anyone to tell teU what the picture will be by July when tax levies are fixed or in November when taxes are paid I believe it will willbe willbe willbe be impossible for the county to re reduce reduce reduce re- re duce its levy said B. B F. F Quinn chairman of the county commission He pointed out that while cost of operating the county road department department department depart depart- ment has decreased in recent years by reason of pf tha the fact that the state road commission has taken over maintenance nce costs on many highways highways highways high high- ways cost cf of operating the charity department hospital infirmary and Continued on Page Pase Two TRO o Column Five OFFICIALS SCAN AN SLASH IN TAXES Continued from Page rl One other allied branches of or the county government J have increased by leaps and b bounds bound This is in spite of the fact that the federal government ent has aided materially in matters of relief Mr Quinn said Auditor Doubtful County Auditor Ferrell H. H Adams agreed with Mr Quinn expressing doubt that the county levy Jevy of mills per 1000 assessed valuation valuation val vat nation will be reduced this year County taxing officials pointed out that the surplus at the end of 1935 county government operations opera opera- Lions accrued almost entirely from increased payment of delinquent taxes an element lement which will be lacking Jacking or greatly minimized in 1936 operations of count county government If It county taxing officials maintain maintain main main- tam tain the same tax rate this year asin as ns asin in 1935 tho increased valuation will add more moro than in general tax revenue to county coffers This provided tho the Increased valuation of ot accruing from both the assessor assessor and state tax commission is not greatly diminished by abatements abatements abatements abate abate- ments because of erroneous and illegal assessments Revenue Increase The increase ase in valuation for tor SaltI Salt Lake City's taxable property properly set by I the assessor only at and bringing the total 1936 assessed valuation valuation vat val val val- of the city to will add to the city revenue from general taxes This computation concerning Salt Satt Lake City does not take into consideration consideration consideration con con- valuations fixed by the tax commission lon because as yet the tax commissions commission's figures are un- un apportioned to taxing units of ot Salt Lake county In the case of ot city schools Increased in increased increased In- In creased 1935 1936 assessed valuation will raise additional t tax x revenue revenue reve reve- nue flue provided the tax levy Jevy used by the schools in 1935 is not reduced in 1936 The computation relating to city schools also fails take to into consideration consideration consideration con con- valuations set by the state tax commission for fot the same reason mentioned In case of Salt Lal Lake e City officials pointed out Officials of various taxing units of the county have until late in July to study valuation figures and de determine determine de- de termine what levies shall shaH be suggested suggested sug sug- to county commissioners for this year The county commission must fix levies for all taxing units of the county including the tho county itself early in August When this has been done the county auditing department starts computation of 1936 taxes to lo be charged up to more than property owners The per cent of tax collections compared to taxes charged was higher in 1935 than in any year since 1931 County Treasurer J. J R. R Jarvis JaMs reported Monday to county com commissioners In rendering his annual annual annual an an- nual t report k port for last year Collections amounted to per percent percent percent cent on the total amount of taxes levied in 1935 by alt all taxing units of the county Tho The county treasurer by DY y law Jaw is made collector of general taxes for all branches of of- government Including includIng ing the state operating within the county His report shows the following computation of oC taxes charged and taxes collected in 1935 Amount Amount e. e Levied Collected State Inc ach funds lunds 91 County Count 1084 f Salt t Lake City 1921 l Salt Lake City schools 80 Granite sch leh Murray Murray Jurray ich 65 Jordan sch 24 2 6 4 Midvale Sandy abatement nt I The difference between amounts of taxes levied or charged and amounts collected for each taxing unit is accounted by deductions made because of failure on part of I property owners to pay their taxes I or because of ot abatements made for I erroneous illegal assessments and i discounts allowed in 1935 for prepayment prepayment prepayment pre pre- payment of taxes the report ex ex- plains |