The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-16
The BOARD KNEW
That the Law Required Sinking
Fund for Debts
But Had to Raise $4,000 for
School Buildings.
A TECHNICAL LAW VIOLATION
Judge Atchison Said They
Went Deeply Into Matter.
Talked to Business Men and
Decided to Wait.
/ TECHNICAL LAW VIOLATION

That the board of education has con-
sidered carefully the suggestion of
County Clerk Samuel C. Zimmerman
regarding a levy for sinking fund 20
provide for the payment of bonds near
ly due and overdue. is the statement
made by Judge w. E. Atchison, a mem
Der of the boards finance committee
| today.
1.-THE board took the matter up from
every angle, and has spent two weeks
trying to determine what ought to be
done" Judge Atchison said. I'VE de-
cided finally that, inaSmuch as we have
to raise $4,000 to build two new school
buildings this year, we ought not in
crease the burden ON the taxpayers any
further So we increased the interest
and sinking fund levy from As mills TO
IS mills, which we believe is a step in
the right direction, and hope that the
same levy made this year will take care
OF the overdue bonds next year.
Judge Atchison declared that the
owners of the overdue bonds have been
consulted, and that there is no need of
haste in paying the bonds. The bonds,
for the most part, are held by the state
school fund, and the interest is all
that is wanted.
zimmerman went before the board,
Atchison said. and urged several times
that levy for a sinking fund be made,
big enough to cover the bonds due and
overdue. 1t would have meant about 8
mills increase in the levy to raise
money enough. The board, Atchison
says went over the matter carefully.
Members of the board talked to various
business men, and held several joint
meetings with a committee from the
Tax Payers league. appointed to urge
reduction in the tax levies. The I'M
animous opinion, Atchison says, of
those conferences was that it would not
be necessary to add the extra levy for
a sinking fund this year. So the board
refused to make the levy, and Atchison
says for his part he does not care to be
a party to such an addition to the levy
now.
Not Necessary.
Zimmerman undoubtedly has the
power to extend the levy We failed TO
provide for" Atchison said. 'Of course
if he puts it on we can do nothing to
at all necessary, and do not favor its
being done.''
1t is urged that the financial condi-
tor of the board of education was bet
ter at the close of the last school year
than it has been before in a number of
this year will still further improve the
condition. After the new buildings have
been completed the same levy made
this year, or perhaps reduction of L
mill, VIII provide for the payment or
bonds the board believes, and relieve
the necessity of a further levy this
year.
Technical Law Violation.
That the board of education has been
technically violating the law for years
is admitted. And that the levy made
this year is in violation of the law also
is admitted. But whether it would he
for the public good to enforce the law
and provide the required sinking fund
is the point that Atchison says was in
doubt. And the board decided that it
would be better not to do so.
The board of education should have
started sinking fund % years ago, and
if that had been done it would be
simple matter for the present board to
carry it on. But with taxes high any
way, the addition of nearly a mill to
the school levy would result in general
dissatisfaction an. ong taxpayers who
either would not understand the situa-
ton, or who understanding might feel
as the board of education feels, that it
is not necessary this year.
The action to be taken by the county
clerk will remain in doubt until he re-
ce:ves the certification of the levy.
Me mbers of the board. however, believe |
he intends to extend the additional levy
to meet the bonded debt, and if he does |