The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-07

After the adoption of the tax levy
there was considerabl discussion on
its inadequacy for school purposes, be-
cause of the limitations of the state law
providing that only twelve mills shall
be levied on taxable property for
school purposes in cities of the first
class and this discussion resulted In the
adoption of a motion by Mr.. Wilson
that President Mallory appoint a spe-
ciai committee to confer with the
boards of education of cities of the
first class on a movement to have the
next legislature increase the size of
this levy And during this discussion
there was considerable criticism of the
assessed valuation of taxable property
in the city as returned by the board OF
assessors. 1t was suggested that if all
of the property in the city was justly
taxed It might not be necessary to ask
for an increased levy The increased
assessed valuation Of the city property
this year is only about a half million
dollars more than that Of last year,
notwithstanding the fact that during
the year two considerable extensions
have been made to the limits Of the
city.
peka, said Mr.. Wilson, 'the city coun-
Gil is taking in territory and hitting at
the treasury of the board of educati
all the time. We have to provide
sch COL facilities for the new territory
property on which we levy our school
tax is not appreciably increased to
meet this extra expense
Mr. Hardy said that he believed
there were other cities Of the first class
in the state whose boards of education
were laboring under the same fnan-
cial disa dvantages as was ToDeka's and
he could see no reason why cities OF
the second class were permitted to
make a levy of 20 mills and cities Of
111 10 M
Mr. Anderson called attention to the
fact that from March 81, 1905, to
March 81, 1906, building permits ag-
gregating nearly sS5O.00O had been is
sued in the city and that since March
81 up to the present time over $780,
600 additional building permits had
been granted. He was curious to know
why the assessors had evidently missed
all this property
Colonel Norton said that there was
$5.OOO.O00 on deposit in the banks Of
the city and that the assessors had only
returned about 10000 600 for the pur-
poses of taxation Nearly every mem
Der of the board had something to say
about this apparent inadequateness Of
the work of the assessors, but suggest
ed no remedies except to say that all
Of the property in the city should be
equitably taxed and when the discus
sion was over the motion was adopted
for a committee of the board to confer
with the boards of education of other
cities for the purpose Of perfecting a
plan to ask the legislature to increase
the school tax levy in these cities.
Topeka schools are the best in the |
west said Mr.. Wilson, but they can
not be kept so unless we have more |
money to run them with and pay our
teachers adequate salaries"
Mr.. Roudebush raised the question |
Of the equity of the tuition now paid !
nv 19,1niIe from districts outside the |
city who attend the city schools IN |
der the present rules the tuition to |
grammar schools is two dollars a |
month and to the high schools, four |
dollars a month. Mr. Roudebush |
pointed out that this tuition was con-
siderably less than the actual cost Of
school. accommodations for a |
pupil. He suggested that in the grade |
schools It be raised to three dollars a /
month and In the high school to i've