The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-12-08
Committee, submitted lengthy and inter
esting report, with the following introduc-

esting report, with the following introduc-
tory:
To the School Board Gentlemen :--Your fin
ance committee, after careful Investigation and
consideration OF the affairs Of the school dis
| trict, respectfully submit the following report
On the eighth OF last August we submitted a
report OF the financial condition OF the district
which revealed very discouraRinp state Of
| affairs and owing to our not having received
| from the County Commissioners a certificate OF
| the assessed valuation of the district and also
| owing to the uncertainty Of what the amount
| OF the valu tion would be, you were obliged to
defer the levyinP OF taxes pending the adjust
| ment OF the matter
The valuation has now been adjusted and we
are gratified TO find that instead Of the amount
being decreased, were led to believe
wo Id happen it has been increased from
sZ,3So 29l Tor 1897, to s2,i6S067 for the present
year.
Another source of encourager ent il found In
the fact that the methods and measures of
economy ana rctrench ent inaugurated few
| month"; go have exceeded our expectations in
their effect on the improvement of the financial
standing OF the,district Compared with last year
| our practical working experience up to Novem-
| Der 30, shows that for the present year a reduc-
ton OF expenditures will be effected as follows
Renting and repairing, ~, 225 90; expenditures
| for tuition, 1880 90; fuel and contingencies
SSOOOOi text books and supplies. S7Sj 90; insur-
arce, siI9cO; library expenses, SLIGO 90
miscellaneous expenses, 500 90; total savings
| 81 ,22900
In our estimation the Board, thus far in the
present year, has done all that could possibly be
done IN the way OF economy Of management
without impairng the efficiency of our schools,
ana yet we cannot assure ourselves that we will
/ not ave slight ueficit of receipt at the end of
| the year However, we think that faithful
adherence to our present policy and methods
will result in satisfactory condition OF affairs
at the close OF the school year and continued
strict economy will wipe out any deficit now
| threatened.
Your committee realizes, as we believe every
| member OF the Board does, that our indebted
ness cannot be incr ased, and also that we
couid not ieel justified under present circum-
stances In IN Iurther increasing the burdens Of our
people py an increase OF the tax rate When the
school tax rate in former years was eightt en-
mi lls the borough rate was ten, and the county
1--WE, making a total rate Of thrty-three mills
| But as the school rate was reduced the borouoh n
and unity rates were increased until now
with school rate Of fourteen mills, a borough
rate OF thirteen, and county rate of eight a
total rate OF thirty-five mills has been reached
Under the present depressed circuu1stan noes sur-
rounding us, It becomes our duty to so manage
our alairs that we get along with the re-
| ceipts produced by the fourteen mill levy since
| any increase IN the already high tax rate would
pe unjust ana burdenso me to our people.
In consideration Of the facts above stated we
| present the following estimate and recommend
the adoption of the resolution appended
The report shows temporary loans outstand-
ing to the amount Of S2l 900 90; total liabilities
and expenditures, s7l,O6lOO. Among the esti-
mated receipts are the 70 lowing amounts due
| by the tax collectors:
NJ. J. Scanlan, '95 duplicate .........s 4ol5 OF
|
Edw. Burke, on ~ " ............ 57s4 IS
Other resources make the total receipts for the
year, $40 269.3s; leaving an apparent deficit OF
S791 90.
The following resolutions were appended
to the report and action thereon was deferred
until to-night's meeting
Resolved That it is hereby ordered bv the
| Schooi Board of Shenandoah school district that
the tax levy for the year 1898 shall be at the rate
OF fourteen (lfl mills the dollars OF assessed
| valuNtion' distributed as follows For redemp-
tton of bonded Indebtedness and interest 2i5
| mills Tor school purposes, II mills for library
purposes, e mill.
Resolved That it is hereby ordered bv the
school Board OF Shenandoah school district
that the tax levy for the year 1898 shall be at the
| rate OF IA mills on the dollar of assessed valua-
tion distributed as follows: For redemption of
bonded Indebtedness and interest 21% mills. for
school purposes, IL mills, and for library pur-
poses, y mill.
Upon the conclusion of the reading of the
report Mr.. Whitaker stated that repre-.
sentative of the Schaetfer Estate notified the
Board that they objected to the assessment of
ia mills for school purposes, claiming that it
was contrary to law, and that the Board
could not legally levy more than 13 mills
for that purpose. This statement evoked
considerable discussion during which Mr.
Hanna took issue with the Schaefer Estate
| '''N tNoNNN biC SCuOO' laws TO sustain his
position He cOntended that the parties oh
Jectng were in error, that they had evidently
not fully informed themselves, and that il
was rank nonsense TO assume position of
that kind. He said that thirteen mills would
not meet the general expenses of the district
Solicitor Burke was called upon for an
opinion, and said that under the law Won
nave right to levy tex of 10 mills for school
purpose and ID mills for building if neces-
sary Your committee has levied ID mills
aPportioning them as follows: Eleven mills
tor schools mill for library and 2J for
bonded Indebtedness and interests. Whether
or not the per cent of your bonded in
deotedness, which the law says you must pay
OH annually, must be included in the general
fund, or whether that can be covered by a
special and seperate levy, is the question be-
fore you. He was of the opinion, however,
that the Board could not exceed thirteen
mills.
The solicitor suggested that the matter be
laid over until this evening, when he will
submit written opinion.
On motion of Dove the Board after pass.
ing upon bills, adjourned to meet this even
ing for consideration of the tax levy and
: general business.