Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-15
School Board May Change lis
Financial Methods.
CLOSER CHECK NEEDED
Amendments to Rules Would Require
Finance Committee to Pass Upon
All Projects involving the Expendi-
ture of Money-Reconsider Action.

Although they voted it down a
month ago, the school trustees are
now ready to adopt a plan of hand
ling the finances OF the board pre-
pared by Col. +. W. Huffman. chair
man of the finance committee. The
committees on rules and regulations
and finance will meet in the near fu-
ture 10 discuss the plan and formu-
late a report ON IL for presentation
to the toard at the regular meeting
in July.
Some of the trustees who voted
against the adoption of the plan say
that upon reflection they realized
their mistake and are now ready to
vote for the change. They believe
thst the proposed system will great
ly simplify the keeping of the ac-
counts of the schools and will keep
the trustees into closer touch with
the financial status Of the board at
all times.
Col. Huffman's proposed system
provides that the finance committee
shall audit all pay rolls and counter
sign ALI accounts properly certified
by other committees; apportion the
funds Of the board to the various de-
partmeats of the school and prepare
all estimates for annual or special
appropriations.
No Appropriations Made.
Under the system now used by the
board. no appropriations are made for
the various departments at the be-
ginning OF each year as is done In
the council. All bills of all kinds are
paid out of the general school fund
and the bills are not approved by the
finance committee before presentation
to the loard.
Col. Huffmans idea is TO have the
committees make up estimates OF the
funds needed for the session and re.
fer the estimates to the finance com
mittee. That committee Will pass
upon them and report to the board.
Likewise committees seeking speciai
appropriations for any purpose what
soever shall report TO the finance
committee which will report favorabiy
or unfavorably on the appropriation
as the case may be-
Some of the trustees who nave
studied the matter express the oeiiel
that this system will mean a saving
OF money TO the board and will great
" facilitate the work Of the trustees
at the regular meeting. indications
arc that the plan will be aoopted
without much opposition at the next
meeting of the board.
Text Of Proposed Rules.
The new rules governing the IL
nance committee as proposed by Col.
Huffman read as follows:
81. This committee tfinance) shat!
audit all pay rolls, and shall counter
sign all accounts properly certified
from other committees.
I'll. This committee shall prepare
all estimates for annual or apeciai
appropriations prior to their presen-
tation to the board and the city
council. :, |
gill. Each year. as soon as pracu-
cable after the appropriation has Deen
made by the city council, this COM
mittee shall place to the credit o.
tho committees on rules and resula-
tious and buildings and supplies the
amounts that in their judgment can
be spared from the appropriations
made by the city council for generai
expenses, etc. The said amounts are
to be used by the respective SAID
committees in the proper discharge
O. the duties dcvolved upon them Dy
the laws of the board
Nv. This COMMITTEES shall exam
ine the clerks and treasurer's BOOKS,
accounts. vouchers and documents
and report thereon at the regular
meeting in August OF each year, and
oftener, If required.
"y. This committee shall meet
monthly. or oftener. as such. times as
shall ne fixed by the committee