Austin Weighs Property Assessments & IBM Tax
- Austin leaders convened a special meeting to address numerous appeals from residents and businesses challenging their 1934 property and stock tax assessments.
- A major appeal from International Business Machines (IBM) regarding a $25,000 stock assessment was referred for further review of machine costs, following IBM's offer to settle for $15,000.
- Officials approved one business owner's request to reduce their stock valuation based on a sworn inventory statement, while upholding the assessment on their real estate.
- Several other property valuation protests, including a unique case involving deterioration from a building being moved, were sent back for additional consideration, though many contested valuations were ultimately upheld.
Full Transcript
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: 603 Austin, Texas, November 28, 1934. The Council met at 7:30 P. M. for the purpose of hearing appeals from the action of the Board of Equalization for the year 1934. Roll call showed the following members present: Councilman Simon Gillis, Mayor Tom Miller, and Councilman Oswald G. Wolf, 3; absent, Councilmen C. F. Alford and C. M. Bartholomew, 2. Mr. and Mrs. James W. Derr protested the assessments placed on their property at 4300 and 4302 Alice Avenue. The matter was taken under advisement pending a review of the property at 4302 Alice Avenue by the Board of Equalization to determine whether any allowance should be made for deterioration of improvements resulting from the moving of same. A. E. Wood, representative of the International Business Machines Corporation, protested the assessment of $25,000.00 placed on the stock of said Corporation, proposing if same were reduced to $15,000.00 to pay the taxes without controversy. After considerable discussion, the matter was referred to the Board of Equalization to procure the necessary data on the actual cost of the new machines. The appeal of Max Silberstein against the valuation placed on the stock of goods belonging to M. & S. Silberstein and on the property at 1311-1313 Parkway owned by the said Max Silberstein individually was heard. The Council instructed the City Tax Assesвor and Collector to accept the sworn statement of inventory of stock made by M.& 8. 811- berstein as of January 1, 1934, changing the tax rolls accordingly, but that no change be made in the assessment on the property at 1311-1313 Parkway. The protest of Mrs. H. Hilmer against the assessment on Lot 10, Block 2, Westridge Addition, was referred to the Board of Equalization for further consideration. The protest of Mrs. Sophie C. Porter against the assessment on Lot 16, Block 1, N of Outlot 44, Division "0" was referred to the Board of Equalization for further consideration. After considering the written appeals of the owners of the following described properties, it was the sense of the Council that the valuations placed thereon by the Board of Equalization for the year 1934 be sustained: The Ne of Lots 1 to 4, Block 102, assessed in the name of Wm. G. Bell; Lot and improvements at 914 West 29th Street, assessed in the name of C. W. Abbott; Improvements on South 65' of Lot 57, Shadow Lawn Subdivision, assessed in the name of August A. Johnson; Property assessed in the name of Hattie Will Hewlett, et al; Lot 25, Outlot 222, and improvements, assessed in the name of Roberta Lavender; i All property assessed in the name of Margaret Robertson, Mrs. Zeno O. Ross, Warren T. Robertson, and J. B. Robertson; Lots 3 to 7, Block 1, Lots 7 to 13, Block 2, Lots 5 and 10, Block 4, Lots 1 to 6, Block 5, 60x175' Block A, and 112x158' Block 16, Wilson Addition, owned by the heirs of Mary E. Wilson. 1 ! i The Council then recessed. Attest: City Clerk Approved: Jom milla. Mayor.