The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-07-01
LOCAL TAXATION.


various townships were giving atten
tion to the election to be held on the
10th of August, upon the question of
a supplementary tax for public
school purposes.
Friends Of education generally
should at once inaugurate vigorous
campaign, with view to making the
voters familiar with the provisions
of the law and to making plain it's
| advantages.
There is no time now to be wasted
Only six weeks intervene between
this time and the election.
For the benefit of our readers, and
especially those living in the country,
we compile the following synopsis OF
the law under which the election will
be held, and which is chapter 421 OF
the public laws of 1897 and is re-
ferred to as "The Local Taxation
Act:
Section 1 appropriates fifty thous-
and dollars annually for the purposes
of the law.
Section instructs the commits
sioners OF every county to cause an
election to be held on Tuesday after
the second Monday in August in
every school district upon the ques-
ton of levying a special tax for the
Of io%r
Section provides that the mini
mum rate of special taxation shall be
10 cents upon every 500 worth OF
property and 30 cents upon every
poll. This was the rate adopted by
the Commissioners of Forsyth. 1t
will be an easy matter for each voter
to determine just what he will pay
under this law If it is adopted by his
township. Reference to the tax lists
will show him the amount of proper
ty upon which he will pay taxes for
1897, and to this would be added 10
cents on every 800 worth and 80
cents to the poll tax. This section
also provides that the tax shall
stand for three years in such districts
as adopt it. After that time it msy
be repealed by a majority vote.
Section 4 requires that an election
| upon the question shall be held every
two years, on the Tuesday after the
first Monday in August, in every dis
trict that fails to levy the special
tax.
Section 5 describes the manner O.
voting, etc. Voters in favor of the
special tax will cast a ballot with the
words "For Schools" Those OF
posed will vote against Schools. "
LII majority vote in favor of the
special tax it shall be Immediately
levied.
Section 6 offers encouragement to
voting the special tax by providing
that ITO every district that may
levy a special school tax under the
provisions of this act the State
Board of Education shall give an
nually for three years sum of
money equal to the special school
tax collected each year, until the ap
preparation OF $50, 900 for each year
is exhausted; provided that no dis
trict shall receive from the State
Board of Education more than $500
year." In other words, if the
special tax in district amounts to
500, the State will give another
$1OO; If it amounts to 5000, the
State will give another 5000; and SO
on, up to $500 for any district. The
State thus proposes to help those
who value the benefits of education
sufficiently to help themselves. It
will be seen that the special tax and
that supplemented by the States
gift and these added to the regular
school appropriation will prove an
important factor in lengthening
school terms and in advancing the
cause of public education.
Section requires county treasur-
ers to send TO the superintendent of
Public instruction, or the 31st of
January of each year, a sworn state
ment of the amount of special school
tax collected In each district, where
upon the State will forward the
amount to which each district Is