What Considered in Arriving at Taxable Value of Property

In arriving at the value of such taxable property, whenever used in this chapter or whenever required, the Department of Revenue, the tax assessors, deputy tax assessors, board of equalization, or other assessing authorities and the courts shall be authorized to consider and may consider original costs, reproduction cost new less depreciation, recent sales of contiguous or similar property, the nature of the property, its location, whether in town, city or county, whether it is vacant or occupied, its proximity to local advantages, its use, its fitness for the use to which employed, or its fitness for other uses, the quality of soil, its growth of timber, its mines, minerals, coal beds, oil or gas deposits, the amount and character of improvements thereon, the amount of insurance carried on each item of property, the gross and net income received therefrom during the year or years preceding the date of assessment, the market value of its shares of stock or bonds, or both, if sold in the open market, or if not quoted in the open market, the value thereof, the amount of any bonded indebtedness, loans or mortgages upon it and any and all evidence and information that may be adduced before the assessing authorities or which he or it may procure, shedding light on the value of such property. In assessing any property where such information is obtainable and has or may have any bearing on the values of such property, the tax assessing authorities shall consider the average market or actual value of the stock and bonds of such companies during the preceding year and also shall take into consideration the estimated investment as returned by the duly authorized officer or employee of such company to the Public Service Commission or to the Interstate Commerce Commission, Tennessee Valley Authority, Reconstruction Finance Corporation or Railroad Credit Corporation, or other similar commissions, agencies, or associations of the United States or this state, or value stated in folders, schedules, or prospecti. Any valuation made for rate-making or other purposes of the Public Service Commission of the state, the Interstate Commerce Commission, or other state or governmental bodies shall also be considered.