EotJiak Itlirror
cf'ferajs of (America's Last frontier
Published Every Saturday at Kodiak, Alaska
Yearly Subscription Rate $5,00
Entered in the Postoffice at Kodiak, Alaska as Second
Class matter under act of Congress of March 3, 1878
MIRROR PUBLISHING COMPANY
Melton L. Crawford, Editor and Publisher
Jeanne R. Crawford, Associate Editor
Candace Crawford, Executive Editor
' . • • that government of the oeople, b\> the people,
for the people shall not perish from the earth.’—Lincoln
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use
for eepublication of all news dispatches credited to it
or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the
local news published herein.
Cancer Drive Nejds Help
The 1952 Cancer Crusade of the American Cancer
Society began in Kodiak this week and is sponsored by the
local chapter of the Business and Professional Women’s Club.
Cancer strikes one in five, says the American Cancer
Society, and shatters our illusions of being just onlookers. The
question of what can we do about it arises.
Right now every one of us can do something about it.
We con contribute generously to the fund. If enough of us
give now it may avert the day when we might become more
intimately acquainted with this tragedy.
Many new methods are being tested for fighting can
cer. The ACS needs funds and other support. Do your part
today. Mail your contribution to the Kodiak BPW or hand it
to any member of the club.
Mayor Lee C. Bettinger and
Paul A. Dupler, attorney, plan
to attend a board of directors
meeeing of the League of
Alaskan Cities at Fairbanks
this week.
Bettinger is president of the
league and Dupler is a director.
Ken Gosling, Aleutian j
Homes. Inc. reoresentative, is j
expected to arrive here this,
week regarding the proposed I
housing project in tha east ad-!
dition. He spent two weeks
here last month.
Mrs. Tom Fannin was hon
ored with a stork shower
Wednesday evening. It was
given by Mrs. Bernie Lindsay.
Mrs. Ronald Kepplinger and
Mrs Ronald Bowhay.
A bid of $150 for city dock
house 2028, recently offered
for sale, was accepted by the
council Monday night. George
E. Schwantes made the bid,
which was accepted with the
stipulation that he tear down
the house and clear the site
within 90 days.
mob
A BANK IS YOUR PARTNER
At your side, all through life, whatever your
plans or needs, your bank stands ready to serve
you. Call on us to finance your home, farm, auto,
or business, for a personal loan in emergencies,
to arrange a convenient checking account, to safe
guard your valuables in a safe deposit box, for
sympathetic and capable trust service, and, of
course this bank is the safe place for your savings
(accounts insured to $10,000 by F.D.I.C.). May
we be your partner?
•Rank of Kodiak
Closed ©very Thursday
Banking service at N. O. B.. Fridays. Old Adni'nistration Building, .1:00 0:30 F M
MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
A
l’AXr'A Yr GET THE BAD NEWS . . by Bennett
J
New Property Assessment System Explanation Given
Many questions have arisen
this week regarding the per
sonal and property assess
ments received by local resi
dents. To answer the many
questions the MIRROR asked
the city clerk and city as
sessor for a statement.
| The following explanation
was r repared by the council,
mayor, city assessor and city
clerk:
“It is the desire of the city
'• council that the public be in
formed concerning the new
property assessment system
adopted this year. For those
who are unable to attend
i council meetings this may af
ford a brief understanding.
When a property owner re
ceives a tax assessment notice
| there are probably three ques
! tions that come to his mind.
“ 1. How was it arrived at?'
This question of the basis of1
valuation is an important one. j
The method of valuation as
used in Kodiak and other'
cities is based on present re
placement costs less deprecia
tion. The assessed value is
supposed to equal 80% of the
1950 cost of replacement, less
depreciation. This cost of re
placement is supposedly a
contractor’s price of the job,
rather than someone’s cost do
ing the job himself or perhaps
using salvage material.
“It would be manifestly im
possible to use the later i
methods with older buildings
! and a little thought will
(editors note: editorial opinion
is the city council’s, NOT the
MIRROR’S) convince the
average individual that the
1 only feasible method of assess
j ing is that based on cost of re
j placement. It lends itself to
(i exactness.
“Now that we have decided
upon 80% of the 1950 cost of
replacement as our desired as
sessment, how do we pro
ceed to arrive at it? The sys
tem used and introduced in
Kodiak this year, both on
I land and improvements, is
known as the square foot in
:rement system.
“Any property owner at:
iny time has the privilege of j
seeing exactly how his assess
ments were figured both on,
land and improvements.
“With the exception of a!
few instances where it was
impractical, all commercial
lots have been valued on a
front foot basis. The actual
frontage on a business street
is what gives these lots their
value and the party with the j
lot deeper in proportion toi
width is not penalized with a■
front assessment as he was\
un der the old SQuare foot sys- ’
tern.
“As applied to buildings,;
the sq. ft. increment system;
means starting with a value
per sq. ft. for the basic build
ing and adding to this other j
features which may have been
determined by a study of all!
the contracts signed in thej
City of Anchorage in the year |
1950. The basic building in-1
eludes floor, walls, roof, but
little else. Features as plumb-:
ing, heat, foundation, cabi-j
nets, are considered incre
ments, and are added to the;
basic cost at uniform rates.!
Residential buildings are divi- \
ded into four groups: B, C, D,
and E, for which only C, D,
and E are represented in Ko
diak.
“A “c” building is of con
struction conforming to the
uniform building code. A “d” ,
building is one step below
standard construction; “e” re
presents cheap, light construc
tion. The basic cost varies
with the type building.
“Frame commercial build
ings are figured on the same
basis. Concrete frame build
ings are built piece by piece,
floor, walls, roof, with uniform
assessments added for each.
These assessments are based
on cost to Kodiak contractors.
“2. Why was there a new
assessment??
“The important considera
tion of any property owner is
that his property be assessed
on a unirorm oasis with an
other property in Kodiak.
This system provides that as
surance (Ed. note: Not neces
sarily the MIRROR’S editorial
opinion).
“The total assessed valua
tion of the City of Kodiak
must reflect the true worth of
ali property; no more or no
less. This system was adopted
as the most accurate measure
ment of that worth.
“The city has embarked on
an extensive improvement
program that requires financ
ing by federal agencies. Much
of our ability to secure ad
ditional capital depends direct
ly on our assessed valuation;
A city’s bonding ability is
limited to a fixed percentage
of its valuation.
“3. How will it affect my
tax bill? ?
It your property is assess
ed on a parity with all other
properties you will not be af
fected. An increase in your
taxes is affected by the mill
age rate that the council sets
at a subsequent meeting to be
announced.
“The millage rate is set in
the following manner: the city
adopts a budget for the fiscal
year. This budget consists of
two parts; the estimated
operating cost of services and
maintenance; and fixed assets
to bd acquired, such as addi
tional equipment, street lights
etc. An estimate is prepared
of the various sources of in
come, other than property
taxes, which consist of such
revenue as business licenses,
liquor licenses, fines, service
for garbage, water, and
sewers. The balance 6f reve
nue then required must be
raised by property tax. This
figure applied to the assessed
valuation determines the mill
age.
“The city dock operation is
not considered in these eal
cuations as it is operated en
. tirely from its revenue.
“All property owners are
Continued on page 12