The St. Johns herald., 1898-03-12
SCHOOL MONEY.
Attorney General Frazier Says
 How to Fix It.

The following article appeared in a recent number of the Phoenix Gazette. We publish it entire for the Tn formation of those interested in this matter in this county, as the same problem has confronted the authorities here
 Attorney General Frazier Wednesday trans mitted an opinion on the duty of the county school superintendent of Graham county in the matter of apportioning the school funds. It ap- pears that it will take upwa ds of $24 900 to run the schools of that county, and there has been only two-thirds or whereabouts of that sum pro- vided. Attorney General Frazier clearly and logically points the way out" as follows: A. P. Snowman. superinte endent of Public h.
 structien, Mesa City, Arizona.
 Dear Sir Your communication referring to me the letter of Judge W w. Dameron, ex-ofi- cfo county school superintendent of Graham ! county, Arizona, received
 Briefly he asks in his letter for an opinion concerning his duty with reference to the appor tionment of school moneys in his county. His duty in tfEs behalf is defined by section 106 of the session laws of the Eighteenth legislative assembly, found on page B, and also in School Laws of the Territdry found on page 29-
 
 sufficient levy for this past year. The only way that that can be reached as far as the money on hand is concerned is to pro rate the money on hand equally among the di tricts under this section. This is done by finding out the exact amount each district would be entitled 10 were the money on hand under this section Deduct tn amount on hand from this result Find the percentage of the deficit and deduct it from each district paying each district the balance
 If new districts were formed in the county du- ring 1897, and the clerK of the board of trustees filed with him a sworn statement of the average attendance, etc.. of such new district "On or about the first day of July" of that yelr. each respective new district would be entitled to it's pro ratathe same as any other district of the county. If this sworn statement is not filed wishin the time specified such district would not be entitled to its pro rata of the apbortionment for that year. It also provides for the lapsing of such district and the abandonment of the same, The authority for this is found in section 1O7 of the school law.
 Section lO4 of the school law requires that at least five months school be taught in every reg ularly organized district in the territory each year. In my opinion this section is mandat ory on the board as to the five months school If there IS not sufficient funds to build or rent suit able buildings and 10 pay for keeping the five months school it becomes necessary, under this section, that the trustees levy direct tax upon the taxable property of such district to raise an amount sufficient for that purpose This they must do regardless of what the patrons of the school or any one else thinks about the ques- ton.
 This same section provides further that after five months shall have been taught the board of trustees of any school dis rict, when in their Judgment it is advisable, may call an election and submit to the qualified voters of the district the question as to whe her tax shall be levied to keep the school open longer period than the five months, the amount of money to be raised the additional time proposed, etc. This section provides in detail the manner of this special election Most respectfully submitted.
 C. NJ. FRAZIER, Attorney General.