American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-04-29
NOT MORE THAN HALF WRONG

WI NuOlbB Anny AAnhR WAsOHS1
Please permit me space to make
. correction Of q wrong impression
concerning the new scioI code.
In the Idaho Daily Statesman
under date Of April IA, 1911. there
appeared an article from the Am
erican Falls Press which article was
entitled, How In This for High?"
This article sets forth that the cash
assessment plan and the new schol
code will not work to the good OF
the American Falls school district.
1t states that excessive district
school taxes IA not be avoided II
both the new school code and cash
assessment plan are enforcde.
The article then proceeds to show
that the amount OF money from stat
and county funds will be barely
enough to pay interest on the bonds
Of the district and buy fuel" so
that 1T will be necessary for the
district to levy the 10 mill tax pro-
vided by the code or lose its share
in the distribution Of the remain
ing one-third Of the general school
fund" The article states further
that a ten mill levy Will. In nddi-
tion to state and county approprfa-
lions, raise enough money TO main
tain the school for two, years.
The author of the article falls to
get the meaning of the school law
upon two Of his statements.
First he writes, THE county com
missioners will doubtless figure on
raising approximately the same gross
amount this year as last. and II so
will cut the so cent levy to 20
cents" Twenty cents on the hun
dred Is a two mill rate on the dollar
The school laws OF Idaho have
CURED and the new code requires
that the county commissioners shall
levy a tax not less than five mills
nor more than 10 mills on each dol
lar OF taxable property In their re-
spective counties. for school pur-
poses" If the law is ohevcd there
win be more money raised because
OF the cash assessment plan than
has been heretofore raised.
Second. tho author of the article
state that 1T will be necessary for
the district to levy the 10 mill tax
provided by the code, or lose It's
share in the distribution of the re-
manning one~third of the general
school funds II Is evident that
the law concerning distribution OF
school moneys has beer mlsunder.
stood. The law is ma follows,
"Two-thirds Of the whole amount
shall be apportioned per capita
among the several districts in pro-
portion TO the number of children
In each district as shown by the last
report of the censns marshal Of each
district: Provided. That no district
shall be considered as having less
than twenty ccnsus pupils. Five per
cent of the remaining one-third or
such OF the same as may be needed
he shall Rpportion among the rural
high schol districts organized under
the consolidated plan which carry
high school work. In proportion to
the number of teachers regularly
employed IN snch high schools, The
amount apportioned TO any such
high schol not 20 exceed the sum Of
three hundred dollars in any school
wear for each teacher 40 employed
In such high school. Fifty per cent
of the remainder, or as much there
Of as may be needed shall he used
for the relief of all. districts or
ganized under article V of this act.
which are unable 10 maintain the
minimum term as provided In sec-
ticn 50 OF this net when such dis
triets after having levied a specltl
tax OF ten mills have not sufficient
funds to maintain the minimum
term. The county superintendent
shall he the Judge MS TO the needs
of such district. The balance Of
tnc whole amount remaining ate,
such aid has been given shall be
apportioned per capita among the
several districts in proportion 10
the number of children In each dis
trict as shown by the last report of
the census marshal of each district
: royided, That no district shall
share of anv distribution of public
funds as provided In this section
unless said district shall have COM
with the provisions OF this
From this law II appears that no
ommon school district can claim
relief from state and county funds
unless they have levied a ten mill |
tax. but the law does not
tate that a ten mill tax has to be
evied before Il district can sh ire
u the remaining one-third of the
'ounty apportionment, nor does
HE law give aid to Independent
districts.
Walter Y. Siders.
School Code Commission.