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(®Eorge JJSstixntamt
Tax Assessor - Tax Collector HANCOCKCOUNTY Telephone 601 / 467-5727 BAY SAINT LOUIS, MISSISSIPPI 39520
EDWARD MURTAGH Chief Deputy
The title of this short article could appropriately read "Do You Still Remember?"
Many changes have occurred in the oast 41 years in the tax Assessor's office.
Of these 41 years I have spent over 2C v ars in th' assess ins? Department first serving for 12 years as Chief Deptity Ansessor followed by Tax Assessor and currently as Assessor-Co.lector.
How ma y of you still remember when a Land Roll was compiled only every other year? or,
When al‘ timber was assessed separately on a special roll, or,
T/.rhen Je.'tlry, household effect', of value, :ules, cattle, horses, jack asses, wage is were assessed, or
'•’hen a separate assessment roT 1 was compiled for Minerals onlyj or Vlien each individual of voting a?e was assedEled for a Poll Tax.
All of these things existed when I first be an work in the Tax Collector's office in 1935 but the Stat/.tes have been gradually changed to eliminate and up-date our tax structure and nntinuated laws.
The "M'neal Land Roll" was replaced by a Mineral Stamp affixed to each deed of conveyance at the time of recording with Chancer/ Clerk.
The assessment of Timber disappeared with the enforcement of a severance tax on all timber-lu :ber and pulp wood included. Tax is collected at the ooint of delivery by the State and distributed to the Counties invo1ved.
The assessment of jewelry, horses, cattle, etc. disappeared in the early l°40's. Assessments were '. proved in the ear1 y 1950's when it became andatory to make a land roll anually and witli any chan-^es mnde thereon after July 1st to be made by a Petit on to the 3oard 'f Supervisors and State Tax Commission.
YVONNE LADNER Chief Deputy