Ogden Evening Standard | 1911-07-28 | Page 4 | Shaking down the Taxpayer

H SHAKING DOWN THE TAXPAYER; H The state board of equalization is seeking to play the role of a M most forgiving and indulgent father to a prodigal sou- The last M Utah legislature provided for the expenditure of the people's money M with the reckless disregard of a drunken Bailor. The legislators ap- V propriatcd millions and then looked around for other millions to H Spend. They eveu appropriated the inheritance lax which came from H Mrs. Harriman and authorized at least one heavy bond issue. B Now the board of equalization is out among tho tax assessors Hl and gatherers, notifying them that they must shake the people down H ' for more money than the assessment rolls will yield and notice has H been served that the big counties of thy state are expected to "dig H r up." Weber county has been notified that the assessment roll in WWt this county must be boosted at least $500,000. M Say, is it not time to cheok this rockless extravagance on the H ( part of the state by positively refusing to comply with these conr j mands to "Hold and deliver !M Tho only recourse left to taxpay- m rs, in resisting this demand for more money, is a vigorous protest. H While the taxpayers submissively allow the state to spend their Hj J millions and provido otlicr millions to bo squandered, there will be WmW no end to the extravagauco of our legislative bodies. ' Tho assessed value of property m this state has doubled within H I the last few years and yet tho rate of taxation has not been lowered. 1 Now comes tho stato authorities asking for more money. Where HT will this frenzied finance end! r Last winter, when the legislature was providing great sums for H the stato capitol and other purposes, this papor brought up the ques- j tion of economy and pointed out the serious problems that would H j grow out of the loose method of appropriating beyond the resources Hr ! k f the state treasury. This appeal for more money is the' answer H ' Wore tho state of Utah to again double the assessed valuation of H property, some way would be found by which to squander the sur- 1 plus and leave a deficit. That is the history of more than one legis- H . lative body. MM Tho remedy is in the hands of the taxpayers, who should stand H firmly against this waste of public funds.