1372 74th congress. SESS. II. CHS. 449, 450. MAY 26, 1936. 



I^o"""- premises: Provided, however, That the city of Buffalo shall have 



secured the sanction and consent of the State of New York through 

 its constituted agencies. 

 Approved, May 26, 1936. 



I 



[CHAPTER 450.] 



AN ACT 

 May 26, 1936. 



[H. E. 8287.1 To establish an assessed valuation real property tax in the Virgin Islands of the 



[Public, No. 616.1 United States. 



Be it enacted hy the Seimte and House of Representatives of the 

 E'subHshmlnt of United States of America in Congress assembled, That it is the policy 



assessed valuation real of Congress to equalize and more equitably to distribute existing 



property tax. ^^^^^ ^^^ ^.^^^^ property in the Virgin Islands of the United States and 



to reduce tlie burden of taxation now imposed on land in productive 

 use in such islands. 



^^B^ased on actual ggf.. 2. For the Calendar year 1936 and for all succeeding years 



all taxes on real property in tlie Virgin Islands shall be computed 



Uniform rate in each qj-^ ^he basis of tlie actual valuc of such property and the rate in each 



mumcipa i y. municipality of such islands shall be the same for all real property 



subject to taxation in such municipality whether or not such prop- 

 erty is in cultivation and regardless of the use to which such 

 property is put. 

 Provisional rate. Sec. 3. Until local tax laws Conforming to the requirements of tliis 



Act are in effect in a municipality tlie tax on real property in such 

 municipality for any such calendar year shall be at the rate of 

 President to pre- ^ 95 per ceutuiii of the asscssed value. If the legislative authority 



mS^fcipaTiwy °etJ. °° of a municipality shall fail to enact laws for the levy, assessment, 

 collection, or enforcement of any tax imposed under authority of 

 this Act within three months alter the date of its enactment, the 

 IPresident shall then prescribe regulations for the levy, assessment, 

 collection, and enforcement of such tax, which shall be in effect 

 until the legislative authority of such municipality shall make 

 regulations for such purposes. 

 Depositofcoiiections. gj,^ 4_ ^ti. taxes SO levied and collected shall be deposited in the 

 municipal treasury of the municipality in which such taxes are 

 collected. 

 Virgin Islands Com- gj.^ 5_ xiie Virgin Islands Company shall pay aimually into the 



''''payments by, in lieu municipal ti^easuries of the Virgin Islands in lieu of taxes an amount 



''"^•'"^- equal to the amount of taxes which would be payable on the real 



property in the Virgin Islands owned by the United States and in 

 the possession of the Virgin Islands Company, if such real property 

 were in private ownership and taxable, but the valuation placed upon 

 such property for taxation purposes by the local taxing authorities 

 shall be reduced to a reasonable amount by the Secretary of the 

 Interior if, after investigation, he finds that such valuation is 

 excessive and unreasonable. The Virgin Islands Company shall also 

 jiay into the municipal treasuries of the Virgin Islands amounts 

 equal to the amounts of any taxes of general api^lication which a 

 private corporation similarly situated would be required to pay into 

 other property the Said treasuries. Similar payments shall be made with respect 



s™s. "^ '"' ^°""^ to any property owned by the United States in the Virgin Islands 

 which is used for ordinary business or commercial purposes, and the 

 income derived from any property so used shall be available for 

 making such payments. 



