Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1891-08-27
A STATEMENT OF FACTS.

1886 the school year and fiscal had
been the same. The legislature at
that time changed the commencement
of the school year to Oct. But the
taxes collected in 1886 were paid on
the schools taught before Oct, as
there was no surplus to carry over
from year to year. 1t has been paid
out in the same way ever since. But
deficit gradually accumulated until
in 1SS9'it amounted to over $500. 90.
In 1890 the Legislature passed q law
requiring that all school fund received
during a school year should be applied
to the schools of that year. | found
that all the funds had been applied to
the year 1889, and leaving deficit on
1889 as above said of over 50, 500. co.
AT the time came into office all but
eight schools We're under contract, and
larger part of them had been taught
two months. aud some of them three
months. | had no right under law to
change those contracts, and hence
could not cut of expenses for that
year, although | soon saw it would
make a deficit on 1890 You see, up to
this time and for while after war
rants were regularly issued on all
work done. The Legislature passed
an act requiring me to issue no pay
certificates unless there was money. in
the Treasury. This cut a small figure
in the case though. as teachers must
have their pay and they sold their re-
ports. When the taxes were collected
for 1890 the warrants out fol. that year
were paid by the treasurer. The NM
uteS of the Beard showing that levy
was made to pay the deficit on 1889.
then the next levy was fer 1890 which
the treasurer construed to mean the
schools taught before Oct. 1890. If
he was wrong in this. the minutes of
the Board do not show it. There will
be no deficit for the year 1891, as | cut
down expenses nearly 100000. The
school fund received after Jan. makes
a small part OF the funds. This has
been applied to the schools of 1891,
leaving a balance on 1891 of about So
10000. | say about, a, all the schools
have not made their reports. / have
been censured because this matter was
N nj hpoi,Oht my Lost Voc, VIVA ,ro,.ll
have been the result? You see from
the above that the county's indebted
ness is about 100000 on 1891, and it
is ., 10000 on 1890: both 1890 and 1891
81, 10000. My idea has been and still
is that the county could have paid out
much more easily in three or four
years than in one. AS it now is the
teachers will be tenedtted, but the
C unity will be hurt. Those who now
hold the county paper will OF course
take steps to make their money soon
That amount raised in this county in
one year, in addition to other taxes,
will be felt The Board of Supervisors
and myself have tried to avoid this. A
few teachers-I am CHAD to say a few
forced the matter to an issue with the
result as you now see. The law re-
CURED me to run my schools four
months. This conld not do with an
empty treasury without promising to
pay at the end Of the year as we had
been doing. | would have had to
break that statute, or the one we prob
ably did break-apply the funds to the
wrong year. want so say this, that
had no hand in making this debt,
hat have no chance, as some seem to |
hink, to make one nickel out of it; on
he contrary. / have saved the county
his year nearly three thousand dol ars, |
IND had intended to make its four |
at least, next year. / say
or my teachers, with a few exceptions.
hey have cheerfully acquiesced in my
'eductions of salaries, knowing the /
necessity for it. cannot think that
he citizens of my county will censure
ne Tor doing my best to tighten the
burden of taxation which is now heavy
enough III any one makes q statement
contrary to the above facts. he either
ices not know what he says, or else is
ylng Tor purposes of his own. can
prove by facts and figures all of INV
statements. | am sure that al con-
'erned have acted in good faith. While I
am your superintendent your debt
never shah accumulate. The way out
Of this difficulty, to my mind, is by
special Legislation. | will explain
my plan when ] meet yon on the can
'ass, where hope to convince YOU
nat ! have studied the question, and
have always worked for your interest
+. I. CAHMAcK. Sup't.