Bisbee daily review., 1911-09-30
SCHOOL FUNDS
 USE EXPLAINED
Money Levied for Interest Pays of Bonds That Fell Due During Present
 Year
PROVE BIG SAVING

lishment of a sinking fund for the redemption of the s90,000 issue of bonds authorized by the voters of Bisbee for high school building. Since that building was never erect ed. but on the contrary, the idea of building for the time being was aban- doned and the bond issue cancelled, il was perfectly natural that MT. Tax payer should ask what became of the money raised by taxation for the purpose mentioned, and as a result of this desire for information the Re- view has frequently been queried on the matter, and proceeded to inyesu- gate.
 A representative of the Review met J. N. Gaines, secretary of the Cochlse County Taxpayers association, yes terday and, knowing that he has been investigating all expenditures, in- auired as to the facts relative to the levy for meeting the expenses aris- ing out of that S90,000 bond issue. MT. Gaines was familiar with all oI the facts of the case, and willingly gave the Review the information de- sired. The levy was for school pur- poses, and the money was used to meet payments on bonds for the the payment of which no provision had been made, thus precluding the possibility of a default on these bonds. which amounted to s7,000.
 The story of the bond issue, it's cancellation and the use of the tax money levied is this:
 When Bisbee was growing faster than it has for the past two years it was recognized that the school ac- commodations were becoming crowd ed, and it was deemed best to make arrangements for the increasing number of scholars. To relieve the Central school, and consequently the other schools of the district, 1t was advised to erect a high school build mig. and cost or S90,0O0 was ad- vised. The bond issue for this pur- pose was authorized at a school cleo tion, and bids were advertised for and received and the bonds ordered issued. but never delivered nor paid for. a deposit of Si,O09 being made by the successful bidder.
 It was not long after the voting or he bonds before s5Ene taxpayers, be Heying the proposed high school building not absolutely needed at that time and the expenditure therefore unWarranted, Drought suit to prevent the issuance Of the bonds or to set aside the issue Time went on and members of the school board, recog- niziug the necessity of economy, investigated conditions and deter mined that the high school scholars could still be accommodated at the Central school and that there were more crying, needs in educational af- fairs than such a building as 1t had been proposed to erect. There was a deficit last year, and the question of cntting down the length of the school term they deemed more i'm Dortant than 8 new school building. The result of-their investigations was q recommendation and request by the school beard that the. issue au- thorized be cancelled. The school board had not the power to cancel the issue, that prerOgative being vest ed in the board of supervisors. Act ing upon the request made to them, the latter board cancelled the issue. But meantime a levy had been made for the interest and the establish meut of a sinking fund for the S9O,- 0GO bond issue, and that tax was col iected.
 There have been falling due each year 5000 of Bisbee school bonds. This year that sum was increased to sf0,OOO instead of 5000, but the sup ervisors in some way overlooked the fact that there was an increase of g. .000 falling due at that time, and S2,0O0 in November.
 To meet these unexpected calls upon the school bond and inter est funds the money levied for the s90,0Oo bond issue and sink ing fund was usesd. It was part of the school fund and was applicable for the purpose used, and had it not been so used, that amount would have had to be added to the school tax levy this year.
 The abandonment Of the new high ' school plan and the consequent can ! ceilation of the bond issue saves the taxpayers of the Bisbee school dis trict directly S4.500, the interest on ] the sg0, ,O00 at five per cent, and m addition to this amount such an amount as it would have been neces- ! sary to raise for a sinking fund for | the redemption of the bonds. Ihas | would amount to an assessment or | somewhere between 15 and 20 cents on the hundred dollars.
 While conditions are somewhat { crowded in the schools the most se- rious problem that confronts the board is the meeting of salaries for a full school year of nine months, and | this year the supervisors believe that | the levy will be large enough to i make this possible when economical methods are applied. While 1t would | undoubtedly be beneficial to have | such a hieh scho0l building as was planned, it would require more teach | ITS ard the expenses that the school ! board would have to meet would be I materially increased in several re- ] spects. Nevertheless, other schools { !n the district are requiring more ! teachers, and these requirements Will i have 10 be met by the board.
 When necessity shall arise for a 1 hig4 school through growth of popu. .aticn or for any other reason, the I people Of the Bisbee school district !