The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-24
DIVISION OF THE FUNDS
Superintendent Mary Mullins
Point Is Sustained.
THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN
Amount of Taxes Paid Does Not Form
Basis for the Division Among the
Districts-An Opinion by the
County Attorney

County Superintendent Mary Mullins
has been sustained by the county attor-
ney in her contentious relative to an
apportionment of the funds derived
from the 5-mills school levy, and the
money will be distributed among the
eight districts in the county in accord
ance with the number of children in
each district. and not, as heretofore, in
proportion to the amount of taxes paid
by each district. Miss Mullins some
time ago construed the law in that
way, but the trustees of District No.
/, in Butte objected to such an appor-
tionment. believing it to be contrary
to law and very unjust to Butte. Miss
Mullins maintained, however, that she
was right. and was sustained in her
contention by the state superintendent.
She referred the matter to the county
attorney by letter in which she said:
Does the county superintendent of
schools apportion the annual tax which
is levied by the county commissioners
for school purposes in the whole coun-
ty according to the school census of
each district in the county. or do the
commissioners levy an annual tax for
school purposes on the assessed valu
alton of taxable property in each school
district? 1t seems to me that the levy
of tax for school purposes is made on
apportioned among the eight school
districts according to the school CEN
suS of children between and II years
of age in each district The commits
sioners have made the levy for school
purposes according to the valuation of
the taxable property in each school
district which brings some of the school
districts very little school funds. Hence
/ ask for your opinion on this matter,
as the people in the school districts
are very much dissatisfied with the re-
suits of the past levy of tax for school
purposes"
Mr. Stapleton yesterday sent an opin
ion to Miss Mullins and another to
County Treasurer Kinds, stating that
the law contemplated that the b-mlll
levy made in the county for general
school purposes should be put into a
general fund and apportioned among
the various districts by the superin-
tendent according to the census in
each district The present law has
been in effect only since the first OF the
year and provides for general levy
in the county of not less than J and
not more than 5 mills. Under the old
law each district had a levy according
to its special needs. Last year, for in
stance, the levy was as follows: Dis
trict No /, mills; District No. :, y
mills District No. 3. no levy; District
No. A. mills; District No. O. mills;
District No. 6, s mills. District NO. Z,
mills: District No s, 5 mills The
taxes collected on property IN the var
| ious districts was credited To the
school fund of each. and the taxpayer
| in each had to support the schools al
| that district Under the new law Dis
| trict No. /. comprising Butte and It's
| suburbs will practically support all
| the schools of the county Burlington,
comprising District No. 2, pays almost
/ no taxes at all. but has over 200 school
children, and they will get the benefit
Of the big tax paid by District No. |,
/ The trustees Of the latter district think
| the law is unjust, and as there Is some
| little doubt as to its provisions, the
county treasurer was yesterday noh-
fled that the matter would probably Dc
/ taken into court for a decision, and tbs
treasurer will probably be temporarily
enioined from transferring the tunds
under the county superintendent up,
nortionment Miss Mullins has figured
/ Il out that If the tax Is fully collected
under the 5-mill levy there VIII be
/ sfS.33 for each person of school age III
the county. and she will make her ap-
uortionment on that basis