Inequalities Arising from the Assessment of Farm Real Estate In South Dakota

For generations writers on public finance both at home and abroad have investigated, recognized, and heartily condemned the assessment inequalities and resultant unfairness and injustice of the general property tax. Yet, in spite of the fact that experts universally condemn its administration, the property tax probably will continue to exist through future generations and continue to form the backbone of the tax system. Although the present study merely substantiates that which is universally known about property taxes, those who have carried on the research feel that in such states as South Dakota, where relatively little research has been done on local problems of taxation, and where the burden of the property tax rests so heavily upon agricultural wealth and income, a statistical check is well worthwhile. Purposely, this bulletin handles its collected data in a conservative manner. If a thoroughgoing check could have been made in every county, the analysis no doubt would have indicated some conditions more inimical to efficient assessment than those shown throughout this bulletin