Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-03-15
VOTED A SCHOOL TAX OF so CENTS
This Is Not Expected to Take Care Of the Shortage of $500
old Accounts with Reference to Building New School,
house Near Brckyard Dismissed

He quoted the late Judge Wheeler as
saying that the legislature kept on cur
failing the means at the disposal of the
town school directors. Mr.. kenston said
that the money received from the state
would he $92O.95 less than estimated at
the beginning of the year and that the
repayment of the United States deposit
money would curtail it S633.4S more, max
ing 1t necessary to raise Sl554.43 to make
good these losses this year.
Mr.. Bacon asked If all this loss was
borne by the town and Mr.. Keneston re-
piled that II was as there was no rebate
from the state school fund and there was
now separate school tax. Mr.. STAFF
ford raised the question of the money
borrowed to make good the school ac-
counts as shown in the auditors report.
Mr. Keneston explained that he knew
nothing about any shortage in the school
money until one of the selectmen in
formed him that the selectmen had bor-
rowed money and placed it to the credit
of the school department. He asked Mr..
Bracket why the regular money was all
gone and Mr. Bracket could not tell him.
He also asked two of the seleCtmen and
neither of them could tell him where it
was Nor could the auditors inform him
in regard to it. The $500 which was not
received from the state appeared to be a
dead loss.
Mr.. Stafford raised a protest as to the
Legislature saying where the money should
go and saiu that they wanted to settle
it themselves. Mr.. Keneston reminded
him that it would be hard to convince the
legislature of their ability to do So Mr.
Keneston said that he had supposed that
the school directors had nearly $4,000 at
their disposal when he learned that the
money was all gone.
Mr. Walker rose to protest against the
reflections which seemed to be cast on
the seectmen. He said that they could
not explain anything to Mr.. Keneston be-
yond the fact that the school directors
had spent about $1,000 more than they
had at their disposal to spend. Neither
the selectmen, nor Mr.. Bracket nor any
one else, outside the school directors.
could figure it out any other way. Mr..
Keneston said that he did not mean to
cast any reflections on the selectmen or
other town officers. He had been inform
ed by Mr.. Putnam that the available
money would be about the same as last
year. He had no personal knowledge of
how much was available
Dr. Charles Clark raised the question
of whether the estimate OF the school
directors of the expenses for the year
would be the same. Mr.. Keneston said
that they would be practically the same.
The so per cent. tax would raise $500 for
expenses but would not clear away the
indebtedness. He did not see the use of
discussing the matter as they had nothing
Stafford remarked that it would be
good plan for someone to know what they
| were about. He said that the schools
We're once run on a five per cent tax and
| a good discussion could be raised any
time if they were not better then than
| they are now
Mr.. Bacon called the attention to the
| amendment of the school tax law made
| last year to the effect that the tax should
be assessed and raised by the town and
not by the seleCtmen and urged that ac-
| ton be taken as no action had been taken
| in the town meeting. and unless some ac-
ton were taken somewhere 1t would not
| be possible to raise the school money
| this year. A copy of the acts of last
| years legislature was produced and after
some discussion it was decided that the
| best course to pursue would be 10 vote a
| tax. 1t would do no harm anyway.
Mr. Kenesston urged 55 per cent. tax,
and it was put to vote. The vote was so
close that the moderator asked for a show
of hands and the motion was declared
lost Mr.. Walker then made a motion
that a so per cent tax be raised which
was carried by close margin on show
of hands,
The question was then asked whether
vote should be taken on holding the
school district meeting separate from the
regular town meeting next year. 1t was
voted to hold it separate.
John p. Sargent asked whether the
5000 which Mr. Keneston said could not
be located, could not be found and sug-
gested that it was somebody's duty to
look it up. Mr.. Keneston said he did not
know about the shortage until recently
and since he knew of it there had not
been time to look into the matter.
! Everything had been done by the school
directors that the state required and he
knew of no reason why the money had
not been forthcoming.
On motion of Mr.. Walker the meeting
! adjourned.