Omaha daily bee., 1893-09-17
NEWS FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS
People Wonder at the New Levy Made for
School Purposes,
SOME FEATURES OF THE LAST FUND
Enough Money Raised In One Year to Last
the Board for Two-who Heaps
the Benefit of the
Move.

The school tax in Council Bluffs, according
TO the levy just made, amounts to 1917 mills.
This comes as a surprise to the conservative
taxpayer, who cannot remember the time
when the tax ever exceeded IA mills. Why
the sudden jump! For seven years past the
school tax has run from 10 TO IL mills, and
the average has been about IL mills. The
Increase this year is therefore so marked as
TO demand an explanation.
One OF the reasons given is that there has
been such an increase in the attendance
of the schools as to increase expenses
and consequently taxation. The CON
scrvativo taxpayer is not altogether
satisfied with this explanation, for
the increase of school children is looked upon
as the result of the natural growth of Coun-
ell Bluffs, aud there should be a correspond
ing increase in the assessed valuation of
property, there being many new houses and
buildings, as well as many new children.
Another explanation offered is that last
year no levy was made, or rather an attempt
was made, but frustrated by those who de-
tected a flaw in the proceedings. and there.
fore had the alleged levy declared void. As
a consequence the levy this year had to be
made large enough to make up for the failure
TO get a levy last year. This satisfies the
mquisitlve taxpayer a little more readily,
but still there are some who are pressing the
inquiries further, and the result reveals a
queer state of affairs.
just II Suspicion of Profit.
the policy of the school board to keep about
one years funds ahead, SO that the levy in
any one year would bring in an amount
equal to che needs Of the school for two
years ahead. Hence the Treasurer of the
school board has for years had from 500. 600
to 8 0 1000 more on hand than there was any
possible need for. This NAV account in par,
for the unscemly plotting and scrambling
WHICH has for years characterized the cleo
tions affecting the public school system of
Council Bluffs. There has not only been A
big pot of money on hand to meet the ex-
penses of the year, but n balance in addition
equal to n whole years levy. One large
taxpayer, who has just gotten his eyes
nent query: "'Why should the people be
taxed a year ahead in order to let some one
have tho use of SI3, 600 IA year of the peoples
money" The conundrum seems unanswer-
able.
The failure to make a levy last year brings
to light u remarkably bloated condition of
the school fund. Although last year was a
very expensive one, and many building i'm.
p~roNemen.S were maie, additional teachers
employed. etc, yet there was enough in the
school fund, left over from the excessive
lcvies OF the previous years, to paw all bills
IN cash, and there is still cash enough on
hand to run the schools late into the fall. In
fact, after skipping one levy, there seems to
be no lack OF funds, the school board simply
being obliged to use the surplus which has
been carried for yerrs for the benefit of the
banks or those who have had free use of the
money.
Causes Il General objection.
The size Of the levy this year indicates
that this policy is to be continued, and there
is TO be gradually accumulated a fund of
large proportions to replace the surplus
which has been such a tempting plum for
The politicians and bankers for To-, these
many years. The taxpayers nave Just awalS-
ened to the realization that for wears thew
have been taxed for schools while all the
time there has been enough of their money
| lying idle at any time to run the schools for
n whole year without making any tax
Whether they will be content to allow
another such surplus to be accumulated for
the benefit of Il favored few remains To he
seen, but the mutterings in the air indicate
that there may be Il halt called. Taxes GER
talnly seem high enough without any in
crease for the purpose of furnishing capital
for private parties to do business with.
If you want to buy the best improved
broom residence in the city call and see
mine, inside and out. | want to build a
large house and must sell this one first.
Forrest Smith, 1856 Madison street.
Cinders for Sale-200 loads nice, clean
cinders for walks and driveways. Apply
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