The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-20
THOSE SCHOOL FUNDS
The Delay in Apportionment
Due to the Law,
WHICH IS 4 DEFECTIVE ONE,


olympia. July N-SorStder2ols crfti-
cisn. newspaper and otherwise, has
been directed toward some state officers.
and more especially the treasurer. on ac-
count Of alleged derelictiens IN the appor-
tiormerf OF school funds under the bare
foot school boy law. The assumption or
these critics instead Of being based upon
the solid footing Of a defective law, are
directed toward state offelals and in this
they are done a great injustice IN that
they are accused az delaying the appor-
tlonmenf OF the schoo. fund 70 the deiri-
ment OF ths several counties. ana espeei-
ally King.
Now those interested IN the matter who
Will take the pains 10 inquire VIII ascer-
tain that the officers are complying with
the provisions Of the barefoot law and
whatever may be unsatisfactory there
under IS no fault Of those who are now
inforcing II. That portion Of the law par
tica.arly relating 10 apportionment Is as
follows:
said tax levy shall be certified 20 the
several county officers In the same man
ner as other state taxes are required 10
be certified. and shall be collected and
transmitted to the state treasurer at the
same time and in the same manner as
other state taxes are required to be COLI
,ected and transmitted: and Il shall be
the duty Of the state auditor. within thirty
days after the date at which county treas
urers are required 10 transmit state funds
to the state treasurer. TO certify 10 the
superintendent or public Instruction the
amount Of all state annual school funds
in The hands OF the state treasurer sub
ject TO apportionment, and IL shall be the
duty OF the superintendent OF public IN
struction. within ten days after receiving
the certificate OF the state auditor. 10 ap-
portion said funds 10 the several counties.
according 10 the number OF children OF
school age residing In each. as shown by
the last annual reports Of the several
county superinten6ents on file in his OF
fee at the time of making any apporion-
ment He shall certify TO the county SUI
perintendent and 10 the state auditor the
amount Of funds due each county. and the
state auditor shall draw warrants on the
state treasurer In favor Of the several
county treasurers for the amounts due
their respective counties, as shown by the
certificate Of the superintendent Of public
Instruction.
The law makes II the duty OF the state
auditor 10 certify TO the superintendent
OF public instruction the amount or money
to be apportioned. within thirty days after
the date in which the county treasurers
are required 10 submit. their funds to the
state treasurer. County treasurers make
their settlement with the several counties
az the end OF each quarter and If they are
prompt in renting the state treasurer
will receive the greater part OF the money
from the 10Th TO the Goth of the month
succeeding the end OF each quarter. The
state auditor, by delaying this certificate
to the superintendent until the Goth Of the
month. Is enabled TO certify TO that officer
a much greater amount than IL the GER
tifcate - made earlier in the month. IL
the certificate is made early IN the month.
none OF the money collected during the
preceding quarter can be included. for the
auditor can only certify to the amount
actually In the hands OF the state treas
urer subject TO apportionment, and remit
tances can only be made by county treas
,,rers after the end OF each quarter. A
much greater saving could be effected II
county treasurers were compelled by law
10 make their remfttances Of the states
norton OF taxes monthly. The state would
thus not only be enabled to appcrtion the
school money earlier In the month but
could apply the money belonging to the
general fund to the payment OF outstand-
ing warrants at an earlier date than under
the present system. and thus save 10 the
state a large amount now paid IN interest.
II county officials are behind In their
work and fail to make their reports and
remittances promptly, so that the money
viii be In the state treasurer's hands
prior TO the apportionment. so far as IL
relates 10 the school fund, those counties
are unfair TO the balance of the state
for the money Will be apportioned pro rata
among the several counties, and the coun-
ties that have not yet forwarded their
school money collected during the quarter
will receive their proportion of the school
money collected and RENTED by other
counties and their collections remain
apportfcned until the subsequent quarter
While this Is manifestly unjust. the fault
does not lie with the state officials. Sec
ton ~ page $50, Laws 1858. Is as follows:
con the first Mondays OF January, April,
July and October each year the county
treasurer shall make settlement with the
county auditor. The county auditor shall
on or before the 18th OF the same month
notify the state auditor Of the result
AMI the state auditor shall Immediately
certify TO the state treasurer the amount
OF state funds IN the hands OF the several
county treasurers. and the state treasurer
is authorized 10 Immediately draw a Sigh.
bank draft on each county treasurer for
the amount OF state funds In his hands.
Should any county treasurer fail to honor
such draft. he shall be guilty OF nom
feasanee in office. and upon conviction
punished according 70 law
Until the reports OF the county auditor
are received by the state auditor. that
Official Is unable 10 certify 20 the state
treasurer the amount OF money Ia the
hands OF county treasurers. thus prevent
ing the treasurer from complying with
the law by drawing a draft upon deiIn-
auent county fressarers. The county aa-
dItors incur no penalty for failure 10 for
ward their reports within the prescribed
time and u frequently happens that these
reports are long overdue. For instance
an examination % tbs heeords IN the
state auditors cffice shows that at the
present time eleven out OF thirqy-four
counties have forwar3ed their reports for
the quarter ending June %. fsss.
Thus a careful study OF the laws relat-
ing TO school and other state funds viii
convince any fair-minaed reader that no
faux attaches 10 any state officer IN thu
matter Of the arpordonnsnt Of school
funds or otherwise.