The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-21
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. rs.

Anacortes. Nov. 10, 1897.
To the Editor There Is some indigua-
ton here because Of an Olympia special
to Seattle paper purporting 70 deal with
inc affairs of school district No Is. Skagit
county. and purporting also to quote the
assistant attorney generals opinion re-
lating TO district No ISIS current expense
funds. People here have not been adj
vised OF the question relating 20 current
expense warrants that Skagit countys
Populist treasurer and attorney have sub
mitted TO the Populist attorney general at
Olympia. or in what language that ques-
ton was submitted, but they know the
facts relating to district No. iss finances.
and know that the Olympia special will
work an injury. il it has any effect at all,
to this school district.
Briefly stated. the facts are that dis
trict No. Is issued general fund warrants
so far In excess of the legal limit that
their general fund warrants had no value
whatever. When this state of affairs was
realized by those who took an honest in
terest in the welfare Of the schools, or, in
other words, when the schools were closed
by reason of a loss of financial standing
o. the district, meeting was held and
reform movement was inaugurated. Of
course. there was no hope of placing gem
eral fund warrants on a firm footing, and
their issue was stopped. law was then
a special tax. and this was DONE the peo-
pie almost unanimously voting a ballot
reading Five mills special tax levy fer
salaries and other necessary school ex-
penses for the school year beginning July
]. 1895, and ending June 80. 1885, The total
levy, by reason of this tax was something
over SEQ. The warrants issued against
TINS 'so-5 fund amounted to less than
1850. The intention was to draw against
the fund in about the proportion that
the tax might be collected at date of de-
Iinquency and To allow the delinquent
taxes, when collected to be turned into
/ the general fund and used In the uuuida-
ton OF that funds indebtedness. The fol-
| lowing year similar tax was levied and
fund known as the current expense
fund for 1861 was created. The total
levy was upwards Of s25m, and the
amount OF warrants issued against II was
about $1,000 this latter sum being with
ont doubt more than would be realized IN
| 70 date OF delinquency. Again this wear
| the people voted a 5-mill tax for salaries.
| et"., during the school year 1875 and
| school began under very favorable condi-
| tons.
| Subsequently, however 1. was an
| nounced that the Populist county treas
| ur"r instead Of keeping each years re-
| ceiptS IN II separate fund. was dumping
| the three funds together. regardless OF the
tFtts'hi pam tnteation II those who voted
| IN" tax and who paid It, Thus. av reason
| OF the present deficiency In the 1885, fund
/ payment Cf the 1878 warrants fs DELAYED
/ ana there are no buyers for them Those
/ VINO accepted the last Of the 1857 war
| rants did 50, realizing ana understanding
| that they would have TO wait for their
| money. because OF delin quencw IN tax
| payments, hut this years CORPS OF teach
| ers hegaa work believing that their war
| rants would be- the 0 lily ones paid ont ~
| the fund raised Ivy The 1878 tax And
| this was clearly the Intent % the yotars
! II the Skagit county treasurer nersls.s
| IN MS course and It would seem that he
! mas stated the case 10 the attorney per-
| Nrat 81 as 20 get a decision In his favor
/ u VIII result either IN the snacortaa
schools being closed, or in somehow, hiring.
! lne suit against the treasurer for nisen.
| preparation OF funds
Inc olympia special above ~eferrs, -
i saws that district No. IL warrants drawn
| again the special tax ~ rSas were grnat.
! or IN amount than the total levy rhie
! IS positively an Uutrutn. TIE levy VS.
mere than sAa ia excess OF ths, amount -.
"'''i''sS ISSUED ALMOND.