The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02
SCHOOL BOARD LEVY
IS FOURTEEN MILLS
FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY.
Appropriation Made for Increase in
Teachers Pay, But Those Who Are
to Receive an Advance Are Not Yet
Designated - Deficit of 100000
Provided for, but No Provision
Made for the Very Probable Cut in
the State Appropriation.

The finance committee of the board
of control made its report last night
and 1t was adopted without opposition.
1t fixes the tax levy at fourteen mills.
the same figure as last year, and makes
an allowance for an increase in teach
ers' salary, but those who are TO re-
ceive the advance will not be desig-
mated until the assignment of teachers
is made in July.
The report takes 1t for granted that
the state appropriation Will be the
same as last year. 1t is quite possible
that such will not be the case as Gov
ernor Hastings has stated that he will
use the axe on the school appropria-
tions and this action on his part is
looked foT every day. The report in
full follows:
Scranton, Pa, May /, 1890.
To the President and Members of the
Scranton Board of Control.
Gentlemen: The finance committee beg
leave to submit the following report of
the requirements of the district for the
ensuing school year, and their recon-
mendations as to the means of providing
| for those requirements.
SINKING FUND.
At the present time, the bonded indebt-
edncss of the district amounts to 100000
| But $4,000 of these bonds are in the
hands of the treasurer, $4,000 of the issue
| of 1885 having been purchased by direc-
| tion of the board and $3.50 of the issue
of 1897 having been taken up with cash
| i'll the sinking fund, thus saving con-
| siderable sum in the way of Interest.
| 1rasmuch as these bonds were practic-
| ally redeemed, it seemed unnecessary TO
| lNn
| levy.
| The solicitor of the board was consulted
| on the subject and his opinion confirms
| this view of the committee He advises
| that the $4,000 purchased be cancelled
| and that the $4,000 be retained as here
tofore in the sinking fund; but that the
| levy on the entire amount of $4,000 can be
| legally discontinued, thus placing to the
| credit of the general school account
| $500, which last year went into the
sinking fund account. The law requires
that a sum equal to per cent. of the
| outstanding bonded indebtedness shall
| be raised annually by taxation for sink
ing fund purposes, the same to be used
for the payment of the interest on the
bonds and to provide for their redemp-
tion. Eight per cent. of 1855 900 equals
S2S400. The committee therefore recon-
mends levy of 1.S mills for sinking fund
purposes on the estimated valuation OF
$22, SOC, 900, which, after allowing for ex-
onerations and collections, will produce
the sum required,
| BUILDING ACCOUNT.
For building purposes for the coming
year, the building committee have placed
before us an estimate of $4,000. This is
an increase of about 50, 500 over the sun
granted last year. The committee has
decided to recommend that this aprro.
pration be made, the money to he pro
vided Is follows: A levy of mills or
the estimated valuation of $22, 200. CO., af
ter allowing for generations and ColeC
tions. will yield $3.50.
After paying off all building contracts
now in force. balances due on lots in III,
Fourth, Eighth and Twentieth wards, a!
ordered by the board at the last meet
ing, and making payments on new sitei
purchased in the First, Tenth anC
Twenty first wards, it is estimated tina
there will be balance I'm the buildins
account of $32, 600, which added TO tht
amount raised by taxation, will provid
for building purposes the sum of $iO,6j
for the year commencing July l. 1899.
GENERAL SCHOOL ACCOUNT.
We have carefully examined and con
sidered the estimates placed before u
by the various committees of the hoart
lures charged against the respective ap
propriations for the pest two years an,
have been unable to see where any ma
terial reduction could be made.
The amount appropriated for teachers
salaries last year was Sl35,000 That thi
was inadequate is shown from the fac
that there will be a deficit in this accoun
of about $1,000 at the end of the yeai
So that the appropriation for the mex
year as recommended by your commit
tee is about $4,000 more than the eX
penditures for this purpose for the cur
rent year. The teachers committee ha
asked for this increase to provide for tn
several purposes of the natural increas
of salaries on account of length of ser
vices, for new teachers required by In
creased attendance in the schools of tn
district, and for raising the salaries G
certain classes of teachers that IN
teachers committee believe are too 10y
and which will be recommended with tn
annual appointments in July.
We have made reduction of 81, 600, fror
S21, 900 to $4,000, for the payment of jar
: itors' salaries, as this latter sum appear
: 10 be ample for the purpose; also a rt
> duction of $500 for the delivery OF sur
plies. The other estimates have bee
= left as reported by the committee. The
, are moderate and will be needed TO me,
various expenditures. We therefore rec
ommend the following appropriate
which, under the law are all chargeab
r TO the general school account:
, THE APPROPRIATIONS.
I | High school cXDenses ,.,,,,,,,,,..S 90 al