Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-26
Letter Relative TO New Tax
For Common Schools.
Appropriate Amounts 10 Be
Distributed in KennebeC Co.
Governor and Council Hold hegu.
lar Monthly Meeting.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Thursday. Feb. ~, at 10 A. M.

Announcement was made at the Of
flee of the State superintendent of
public schools Tuesday that the fol-
lowing letter relative to the additional
State fund for common schools was
being mailed to the superintendents
of schools and the chairmcn of the
mtinicipa! officers of the various cities
and towns of the State. The object
of the letter is to call their attention
to such chapters of the laws of 1909
as relate to school funds and which
should be held under consideration in
view of the approaching season for
town meetings. The text of the let
ter Is as follows:
STATE OF MAINE.
Office of State Superintendent Ct
Public Schools.
Augusta, Jan. 10. 1910.
To Municipal Officers and Superin-
tendents of Schools:
Among the laws enacted by the
legislature of 1909 were several which
relate to school funds. 1t is the pur-
pose of this circular to call your at
tenton to those which should have
consideration in connection with the
appropriations to be made at the APP
preaching annual town meeting.
Additional State fund for common
schools
Under, the terms of Chapter III of
the Public Laws of 1909 a State tax of
one and half mills is to be assessed
annually upon all the property of the
State for the support Of common
schools. The fund raised by this
new tax will be additional to the
common school fund hitherto pro-
vided.
Method of distribution of new fund:
The fund made available by the
new law will be distributed to the
cities. towns and plantations on the
following basis: One-third according
10 the number of scholars and two
thirds according to the valuation as
fixed by the State assessors
Amounts available under both laws
now operativc:--
The common school fund provided
by the new law will the first year
amount to ta s642,31S. The total
common school fund as provided by
the new law and those laws already
existing will be approximately CD
$1,511, 500 OF this last total, about
W. Sl ,OND,-Jf VIII De uIStT1Duttu &C
cording To the number Of scholars
and OdD $42S.212 will be distributed
according to valuation.
AS affecting each town.
on account of the variation in the
number of scholars it is not possible
to state with absolute accuracy the
amount each town may expect to re-
Ceive from the State in January.
1911. Using the last school census
as a basis an approximate estimate
can be made, however. and this is
here stated for the assistance of local
authorities in making up the school
budget to be recommended to the an
nual town meeting of 1910. The APP
portionment for the town Of
In January, 1910, was "
In January, 1911. that town will re-
Celve approximately .............
BY the increase shown. local authori-
ties will understand how much. if
any. reduction of the towns appro-
priation may be made.
Amount required to be raised:
Besides the foregoing change i'm the
raw 1t should be noted that towns
Will be required to raise at least
eighty cents per inhabitant for COM
mon schools. However. it is also
provided that the sums any town will
receive from the fund above desig-
mated as (a) is to be deemed as
though raised on this eighty cents
per capita requirement. The town
herein named will receive from that
fund ca Approximately .....
therefore. this amount should be de-
Quoted from the total eighty cents
per capita fund to show the amount
that must be appropriated for COM
mon schools by that town at the next
town meeting
Many towns have raised in excess
of the legal requirement. Hence.
care should be taken that so great
reduction is not made as to reduce
the total school revenue below that
formerly provided 1t is believed the
hgureS herein stated will serve to
guide the local authorities in COM
putting the amounts to be recon-
mended
Very truly yours,
PAYSON SMITH,
State Superintendent of Public
Schools
Inc following table shows the ap-
proximate total amounts which will
oe distributed among the cities and
MS ana the one plantation of
Neii'eDec county out of the new fund
Jan l, 1911. and also the approximate
.otal amounts which will be dis
.riputed out of both funds on that
date: rR -
E-Ls ELE