Answer 9 Kansas counties assess at 30 percent of fair market-retail-value: Household goods and furnishings used for production of income. Livestock. Farm equipment and machinery. Standing timber-only as a part of real estate. Household goods and furnishings are used for production of income are exempt, primarily because of administrative costs and taxpayer dissatisfaction. Answer 10 The Kansas constitution provides that mineral products, money, mortgages, notes, and other evidences of debt may be classified as the legislature shall provide. Additionally, statutes provide for two other exceptions to the usual 30-percent assessment rule. Merchants' inventories may be assessed at less than 30 percent because of allowance for certain cast deductions up to a maximum deduction of 40 percent of fair market value. Grain is taxed at 5 mills per bushel in lieu of 30 percent of fair market value. The merchants' inventory provision was passed by the 1972 session of the legislature. Answer 11 Kansas exempts the following real property from ad valorem taxation: (a) Buildings and grounds used exclusively for public worship (h) Property used exclusively in connection with the function of fire extinguishment. Kansas does not publish the value of such property. No. Answer 12 Answer 13 Kansas has a Homestead Property Tax Relief Act which provides real estate tax relief to certain persons over 65 years of age by means of income tax credits and refunds. A total of 15,667 homesteads received such relief in fiscal 1972. Tax credits totaling $1,114,505 were granted that year under this program.3 Answer 14 The legislature shall provide for a uniform and equal rate of assessment and taxation, except that mineral products, money, mortgages, notes and other evidence of debt may be classed and taxed uniformly as to class as the legislature shall provide. All property used exclusively for state, county, municipal, literary, educational, scientific, religious, benevolent and charitable purposes, and all household goods and personal effects not used for the production of income, shall be exempted from taxation. (Article 11, #1) The Kansas constitution also provides that: -the State has the power to tax income, -taxes must be for specific and explicit purposes, -an annual tax must be used for payment of interest and principal on any State debt, and -motor vehicle and motor fuel tax-but no general property tax-will be used for highways. KENTUCKY Answer 1 Total property tax revenues in Kentucky in fiscal 1972 was approximately $248.5 million which represented 21.6 percent of the total State and local tax revenue in that year. Answer 2 Property valuation administrators who make the assessment for State purposes are locally elected in the counties in which they serve. Before any person's name shall be placed on the ballot he must hold a valid certificate issued by the Department of Revenue showing that he has been examined by it and is qualified to serve. There are no other qualifications other than being a resident of the county and at least 24 years of age. Answer 3 There are no special salary incentives for assessors who complete special training courses. The department is required to hold an annual conference for purposes of instructing the assessors, and has, on occasion, held special schools conducted by its own staff. The State does not pay for special training. 3 Homestead Property Relief Refunds July 1, 1971, through June 30, 1972 (tab run) from Accounting Control, Department of Revenue (E. F. Brault), Dec. 13, 1972. Answer 4 Members of the local board of supervisors-initial hearing bodyare appointed on a staggered basis to 4-year terms by the county judge. They do not hold other offices, meet only at statutorily specified times, are compensated on a per diem basis for days actually in session, have authority to hear appeals only and have no other tax administrative responsibilities. Answer 5 Responsibility for assessment review lies wholly with the Department of Revenue. This agency supervises local assessments and can reject assessments that do not meet the fair cash value standard or apply equalization increases to the aggregate assessment of any class of property. It also has responsibility for assessment of all corporations, companies, associations, partnerships or persons performing any public service-railroads, utilities, and so forth. The Commissioner of Revenue is appointed by the Governor and the Director of the Property Division by the Commissioner with approval of the Governor. Answer 6 The Department of Revenue conducts annual assessment-sales ratio studies. The results are published in the department's annual report by classes of real property, that is, residential, farm acreage, commercial, and industrial. Answer 7 The budget of the General Property Tax Section of the Department of Revenue which directly supervises the assessment, recommends certain assessment, prepares and distributes manuals, directives, circulars and instructions is approximately one-half million dollars per annum. The staff has, at present, no industrial appraisers as such, however, all staff members are required to take courses in real estate appraisal sponsored by the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers in order that they might assist the assessors. Answer 8 There have been no changes in the size of assessment districts. The county in the primary assessment unit. Answer 9 All items listed are subject to tax with the exception of household goods used in a person's home which are constitutionally exempt. Intangibles are taxed at varying rates. Stock, bonds, account receivables from in-State business, out-of-State bank deposits, and so forth, are taxed for State purposes only at 25 cents per $100 of value. Bank deposits, including savings are taxed at .001 cent-virtual exemption— per $100 but this tax is paid by the banks. Livestock and farm machinery, manufacturing machinery and raw materials are subject to State taxes only; the former items at .001 cent-virtual exemption—and the latter at .15 cents per $100 value. Timber under a marketable size is considered a growing crop and is not taxed. Marketable timber is taxed at prevailing real property taxes. For a more detailed breakdown of the classified property tax and rate structure, see attachment No. 1. See preceding answer and attachment. There are no classifications by assessment; the standard for all being 100 percent. Answer 11 See attachment No. 2. (Section 170, State Constitution.) Answer 12 See attachment No. 3. (Section 132.450, 454, State Code.) Answer 13 Kentucky implemented a "homestead" exemption in 1972. It provides for exemption up to $6,500 for single-unit residential property owned and occupied as a home by persons 65 years of age or older. Approximately 130,000 persons qualified. There was on money distributed. The local tax rates were adjusted to pick up the potential revenue losses. Answer 14 See attachment No. 2-constitutional provisions. (Sections 170-175, State Constitution.) LOUISIANA Answer 1 Total assessed value of all real and personal property in the State of Louisiana for the calendar year 1971 was $5,820,662,362. State and parish taxes amounted to $318,945,995.03. Answer 2 We have 70 assessors in the State and they are elected for 4-year terms. Answer 3 No. Answer 4 When the assessor has completed his listings of property, the members of the policy jury, who are elected for 4 years, meet as a board of review and hear complaints of the taxpayers. They make recommendations to the tax commission. Answer 5 The Louisiana Tax Commission is composed of a chairman and two members. They are appointed by the Governor to 6-year terms overlapping. This commission reviews the assessments made by the assessors covering all real estate and personal property. All public service property, such as railroads, pine lines, telephones, etc., is assessed directly by the commission. Answer 6 Very seldom is a ratio study made. Few assessors make appraisal studies. Answer 7 The budget of the commission is $515,000 for the fiscal year 19721973. There are 39 employees including the 3 commissioners. Of this |