The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-20
Board of Education Declines to
Raise Tax Levy.
Sent Old Levy Back to the
County Clerk.
HE WILL DECIDE TOMORROW
Board Inclined to Pile Up
Wrath Against Wrath.
Must Refund SS5,7OO Worth of
Bonds Overdue.


roses. but ordered it recertified to the
county clerk with but one minor
change. The levy calls for an interest
fund of AS mills and sinking fund
of .05 mills instead of an interest and
sinking fund" of IS mills. The resolu-
ton readopting the levy, declared in
sufficient by the county clerk, passed
the board without a dissenting vote.
Immediately following the passage
If the resolution readopting the old
levy in it's new form. the board unani-
mously voted to refund $35,70O worth
of bonds now overdue, that are in the
hands of the state school found COM
mission. By the terms of the resolu-
ton to. refund the board will attempt
to float either or " per cent bonds,
and sell them to Topeka and Shawnee
county people. If this cannot be done
the board will refund the bonds at .
per cent, taking the offer of the COM
mission to buy them in place of the
bonds already held, which, however,
draw only 4 per cent.
During the meeting Clerk M. G. Hol-
man reported the financial condition of
the board, declaring that bonds overdue
amount to $35, 700, and that overdrafts
and deficits previously reported will be
taken care of by receipts that are still
Cue the board this year. He did not at
tempt to explain. however. the esti-
mated deficit in two funds for the COM
ing year.
TT is a poor idea" President PenwelI
'for us to try to make records and. not
Fay our debts. We must pay these
overdue bonds or refund them, and in
refunding them We will have to pay in
terest at per cent
Read FairchiId Letter.
A letter from the county clerk, pub
lished Saturday in the State Journal,
and a letter from State Superintendent
E. T. Fairchild, in which he said the
state school fund commission would in
sist upon cash or per cent refunding
bonds to take up the overdue bonds,
were read.
Judge T. F. Carver and T. D. Hum
phreys were present to urge the board
not to increase the levy. Judge Carver
said he took little stock in the agitation
to increase the levy, declared the board
has been under peculiar stress for the
last ten years in having to erect new
buildings; said he hoped that all the
new buildings would be cleaned up this
year, and suggested that next year
would be a good time to start paying
off the bonded Indebtedness. His plea
was, Don't burden the taxpayers this
year. Let it go another year.
l.. M. Jones, chairman of the finance
committee, asked permission to report
a revised estimate, showing that the
tax levy made will cover the proposed
expenditures if the present deficit is
rot taken into consideration. He urg-
cd that the deficit will be covered by
various amounts the board will yet
receive, including a payment already
made by the county treasurer of $15,-
600 since July 1, a state and county
apportionment that is expected to ag-
gregate about $4,000, and the balance
In the hands of the county treasurer
that will be turned over about Octo-
Der 10, at the time of the annual set
tlemene
The revised report, which was
adopted unanim ously, shows that the
1nx-x of 4 & mil l- xx-i1I duo
d total of $240,002.49, added to which
are the estimated receipts from tut
ton, state and county appointments,
etc, in the aggregate of $4,000,
1852, 002.49, or a little more than the
estimated expenditures. The esti-
mates provide for a total expenditure
of $259,S26. Thus the proposed levy
and other receipts will cover the ex-
penditures provided nearly all of the
tax levied is collected, which may not
be the case, there always being a
certain per cent remaining uncollect-
ed.
PenweH Wants to "Be in the Clear
President PenweIl said he regretted
the break between the county clerk and
the clerk of the board, declaring he
wished to see everyone work together
tremendously, and that he believed ev-
eryone concerned was anxious to see
an amicable agreement reached He
pay the honest debts,'' and reiterated
his former stand for a higher levy
that would put the board '.in the clear"
Members of the board declared they
believe refunding bonds drawing from
4 to Az per cent interest can be sold
to private parties right at home, giving
the board ample money to take up
the bonds now overdue that are being
held by the state. Thus the board be-
lieves it can solve the problem of dis
posing of the overdue bonds.
The new levy has been certified to the
county clerk, and is in his hands What
action he will take in the matter now
he declines to say until he has looked
further into the matter. If thinner
man refuses to extend the new levy,
and insists upon returning it to the
board again it will necessitate another
determine upon some. new course of ac-
ton, Saturday being the last day on
which a levy may be received legally
by the county clerk. And between now
and Saturday the county levy will have
to be made.
Clerk Holman also submitted to the
board a statement showing where the
present deficits exist, and the funds
that will be available out of taxes al
ready levied, to take care Of them, and
leaving a net balance after the deficits
have been met. The statement as OF
July l. last, is as follows:
General fund. $50, sos p
Building fund q, 955-37
cash on hand interest fund.........: s.Sioa
Balance deficit. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 33 $50 p
Revenue available
From county treasurer. SIS, O00 90
From school fund. 10000
Estimated receipts. 17.00O.0 co.
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $40 10000
Less ..-...-...-...........-- "a. 750.21