The herald., 1897-08-08
A DEFICIT THREATENED
INCREASED EXPENDITURE FOR
NEXT SCHOOL YEAR
What Director Davis Thinks of the
Situation-The Excess Of Ex-
penses Over Revenues

At the last meeting Of the board Of
education Charles Cassat Davis called
attention to the fact that the cost of
the schools per pupil had Increased So
for the year just closed over any pre-
ceding year. He also produced figures
which indicated that, with expenditures
made upon the same scale as during last
year, there would be deficit ranging
from $4,000 to $4,000 or $4500O, owing
to whether the city council allowed $119,-
900 or only 100000 for the schools.
Mr.. Davis was seen yesterday in re-
gard to these matters, and was asked
whether he had any information which
would cause him to change his ideas as
to the financial situation of the schools.
He replied that the secretary had been
instructed to make a tabulated state
ment Of the expenditures for various
purposes for several years back, for the
purpose of enabling it to be seen where
the increased expenditure during the
last year had been incurred. This state
ment has been only partially made by
the secretary, who is now away on his
vacation, and it cannot be completed by
anyone in the office, as no one there is
familiar with the books. Until this
statement is made, it would be impos-
sible to explain what had caused the in
creased cost last year. Mr.. Davis
seemed to feel that this was matter of
vital Importance, for an examination of
this statement might throw sufficient
light upon the situation to enable the
board to act with intelligence in pro-
viding for the expenses for this year.
AS to the figures presented by Mr.
Davis at the meeting, he said he had
been compelled to revise them somewhat,
although even yet he was not able to
give any entirely trustworthy state
ment.
County Superintendent Riley's books
show that during the school year 1867
the city received from the state $21O,-
73S09, and from the county $106, 405. .46,
making total of $317, ,14355. In the
estimate given the other evening, the
amount received from these two sources
was stated to be 100000. so that the
funds actually received were some ST.
600 more than had been estimated, and
the total expenditure for the year was
about 1858 900 instead of $536,330 as then
given.
Mr.. Riley estimates that the city will
receive from the state and county fund
this year the sum of 1921, 800
1t is possible that this may be
increased about $4,000, but Mr..
Riley says that it is not safe to figure
upon this. In the figures presented by
Mr.. Davis it was estimated that the city
-, \
$4,000. These figures as corrected,
show that while expenditures, if made
upon the same basis as those of last
year, will aggregate about $3.50, ,000 the
receipts, if the council allows only $780,
600, will be $44S,000. If the council should
allow the $119,000, and if the extreme
limit stated as possible by Mr.. Riley be
received from the state and county, the
total receipts will be $507, ,639. If this be
received, there still would be a differ
ence of $4,000 unprovided for.
Mr.. Davis stated also that during the
last year there had been certain ex-
penses incurred, which were in the ma
ture of permanent improvements, and
need not be carried into the current
years estimates. For instance, the
board last year purchased pianos, for
which they paid about $500; they also
bought material to large extent for
the introduction of the Sloyd system, and
in addition to this there was much nee
essary grading of lots and repairs to
buildings Allowing all of these ex-
penses, there is still large excess of
expenses over the revenues which must
be faced.
Apparently the only way to meet the
difficulty is to curtail the expenses most
radically, and it is not unlikely that this
will be done by deferring the opening
of the schools until the latter part of
September.