Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-03-07
STOP AND CoNsIDERi

The House OF Representatives has
passed the bill authorizing the Board
Of Education OF Salt Lake City to In
crease the school tax levy from five and
half 20 seven mills. This is de-
manded In order to keep open the city
schools 10 the end OF this term, the
funds now available being sufficient
only TO maintain them until about the
middle of April A number Of people
have been persuaded by school teachers
and others to sign petition to the
Legislature asking for the passage OF
the bill.
The impression has been made that
the increased levy would be available
this year That Is untrue and absurd
A great many persons, Including some
legislators, have been mlsled by this de-
ception. The only way by which the
proposed change In the law can affect the
present years school term, is by en-
couraglng the board to attempt to bor-
row money on the strength Of 1t The
law Is very plain on this matter and
Il forblds the use OF next years money
for this years schooling A loan this
year would have to be paid out Of next
years taxes. The Board Of Education
will be borrowing trouble as well as
money, II they can effect loan on such
doubtful security, The contest would,
in all probability, be carried into the
courts.
The bona flde taxpayers Of this city
have not taken the alarm very strongly
up TO date, because they did not expect
the bill TO be entertained seriously, In
view OF the increased taxation contem-
plated in other measures before the
Legislature. But the Senate Is now re-
quested to look closely into this en-
deavor TO burden the taxpayers beyond
the limit OF endurance, II the bill 70
raise the county limit to four mills
should pass, the total school tax In this
city would be fifteen millsl state tax
three mills; city, seven; county, -four
and sites, one; total fifteen. Ada that
TO the regular taxes for state, county
and municipal purposes, and this will
be the worst tax-rdden city in the
country,
It is the hight Of folly to pretend thai
this is only temporary arrangement
and will not be permanent Why es'
tabllsh II by legislation II It Is only fol
the time beingY Why meet present
emergency by imposing a perpetual In
crease? When did school boards fal
to levy up to the legal limit2 II II Il
only to give security to borrow money
why not take the law as II stands, an(
let the taxpayers decide by vote wheth
er the Board shall contract q debt fo
the present emergency
We expect to be accused Of trying t
cripple the city schools because we tax
this position. We are doing nothing o
the kind. We are endeavorlng to say
the school board great deal Of trouble
and litigation, and the taxpayers from
a needless load. II money must be Dor
rowed, let the loan be made as the la'
authorizes. and do not raise the wis
limit Of taxation now fixed by statute
We are satisfied that many OF tn
sgners Of the petition sent TO III
House, and many members Of that bod
themselves 90 not fully comprehen
the consequences OF the legislation o
this subject that Is stIll pending W
trust to the good judgment Of the Sen
ate to interfere, and prevent this raj
on the pockets OF the already over
burdened taxpayers OF this city.