The San Francisco call., 1897-01-25
STILL DIFFER ON
SCHOOL DEFICITS
One Director Figures a Sur
plus and Another a
Shortage.
Waller Insists That Schools
Must Close or Salaries
Be Cut Off.
Hawley Again Mak'S Figures Show
ing That the New Board
Claims Too Much

Charles H. Hawley, ex-School Director,
makes reply to the statement of School
Director Waller concerning a deficit in
the school fund and the possible necessity
of asking the teachers to wait for the last
months salary or closing the schools one
month short of the usual time.
Mr.. Waller is the chairman of the
Finance Committee of the present School
Board anu Mr.. Hawley was chairman OF
the same committee OF the previous board.
Mr.. Hawley said yesterday: '"The trou-
BILE with Mr.. Walters position Is that he
claims the present board ought to have
the entire STATE appropriation. When the
| board of which l was member went into
| off ce practically the same condition of
finances confronted us that confronts the
present board. The last half of the total
| amount due from the State is not avail
| able till about June 8, after the close OF
the fiscal year. Let the teachers go on
| and wait for their last months pay, or
when the money comes in in June 1t can
be told whether any decrease is necessary.
1t is impossible for any body to tell the ex-
act amount of money that will come from
| the State / do not think ii is necessary
to close the schools at ALL"
Mr.. Hawley' statement is as follows:
1t seems to be the aim of Director Waller, as
far the finances of the School Department
are concerned, to figure on q supposed deficit
| (Which may or may not exist at the close OF
| the fiscal year, and make II as large us possi-
bic, instead OF looking on the bright side of
| the ques ton.
During the fiscal year 1886 the last
board, after receiving the appropria ton OF
| 81 100000 from the Supervisors, were con-
| fronted with the same question of a supposed
deficit that might exist at the end of the fiscal
year. Instead OF giving the press column
after column OF information day after day
a bout a supposed deficit that might exist, we
| did, when necessary, withhold a portion of
| the teachers salaries, and at the close of the
| fiscal year, after paying the teachers their
| back salary, had surplus of $41, PIT %,
which was accomplished without consul lting
| the press.
Now as to few of Director Walters criti-
| clsms on my report:
My fig ures, as given for publication yester-
day, are absolutely correct, and agree with
Mr.. Walters statement as far as the receipt of
SAC, ,11S 90 from the City is concerned; but
the first installment OF $413,694 ~ from the
| State fund Mr.. Waller wants TO credit to the
new board, which would mean that the old
board, for the last six months of the year,
were not entitled to any money from the
State, but that the new board should have the
entire $3.50, 900 or more, received from this
| fund. II 20 the receipts of the old board for
| the last six mouths would be $420,11S 63,
! 600 for the year, Mr.. Waller would have
| $3.50, 900 TO run the department the remain
der of the fiscal year
| December 81, 1896. 1t is the receipts from
! State taxes received from July l to December
81 of each year, and as it axes the State Con-
| troller several days to close accounts with the
| cities and counties of the State it is impossible
| to receive it on or before January 10 of the
following year and it is always included in
the receipts OF the school fund OF the previous
SIX months
In speaking of deficit have always spoken
OF it as occurring at the end of the fiscal year,
| If al ALL as that is the only time it cali occur
hav
| been received.
According to Mr.. Waller's statement the new
| board is expected TO run the de apartment on
! $199, 900 Qn six mon ths), the surplus left by
the old board.
| To the surplus OF $199, 600 left January 1,
| 1897, must be added the income for six
months Tor rents, from the second lnstallment
OF taxes, and from the second instalment
| from the State fund, which will probably
amount in all from $620,000 to $650,000, and
| from that sum must be deducted the balance
! of $143, 900 to become due on the Mission
High School contracts leaving the present
! board pro bab bic sum ranging from $3.50, 900
| to 100000 or more for the balance of the
| year
For Mr.. Walters special benefit 1 wish to
say that if at the close of the term of office of
| the present board he does not include the first
! installment OF taxes received from the State
fund in his receipts, the board will retire W it'll
a large shortage.
In Conclusion, 1 wish to state empha tically
| that my report on the school fund upon my
| retirement from office simply showed the con-
diuon of the fund at that time, and did not
enter into any question OF q deficit which
| might occur at the close of the present fiscal
| year.
Director Waller said last evening: "Mr.
| Hawley's figures look all right, but they
are not a business mans figures. They
do not show the facts as they do exist and
will exist at the end of the fiscal year. As
| he says, we have $i99, 900. We have more
than that-$250, 00O-but that will not
carry us through. Any way it can be fig
ured we will have a deficit June of about
! $50, 000 including the teachers salaries for
the half month of November. The State
taxes are an unknown quantity. | think
it Will be necessary 10 reduce or cut off
salaries or close the schools. By doing
away with special teachers and substitutes
and practicing the greatest economy in
several directions 1 think we can save
about $4,000 and pull through with q
small margin"