The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-02-09
SCHOOL BOARD IS SHORT
OF FUNDS WILL BORROW
Haven't Legal Authority, But
It's Physically Possible" At
kinson Tells Inspectors

When II comes 10 Juggling finances.
the Board OF Education 10 entitled to
the blue ribbon. State laws and char
ter provisions are brushed aside nom
chalantly, with the result that the
board usually gets what II goes AFTER.
A perplexing situation came 20 light
Thursday night, when the board met
for It's regular bi-weekly session. IL
appeared thar the primary school
fund, out OF which the board pays the
teachers salaries, was about exhaust
ed. The board has about sl60,00U
coming from the state. but this Is not
expected before May NJ the earliest.
That 10 one reason why the fund Is
low. Another Is that the controller
has been drawing on these resources
among others, TO provide money for
the building OF new schools because
the bonds issued for this purpose
were conditioned on the increasing or
the bond limit. and the city Is power
less to do that until It's charter is
revised.
To pay the teachers salaries II viii
Re necessary TO borrow some 100000,
but the boards borrowing limit Is
SIS, 900, under the law. This question
came up when someone introduced L
resolution authorizing the secretary
TO borrow $4,000 under the $4,000
clause TO replenish various funds that
are running short, outside OF the
teachers salary fpnd. The finance
committee had previously recommend
ed the passage OF another resolution,
authorizing the officers OF the board
TO enter into negotiations with the city
controller to borrow such sums as are
needed from time to time to pay the
teachers.
Inspector Burton raised the point
that IL both resolutions were passed
the board would be precluded from
borrowing any more money under the
$4,000 clause. to replenish other
funds than the teachers salary fund
A ssistant Corporation Counsel Atkin,
son. legal adviser OF the board, agreed
with him. Inspector Burton then NOV
ed that the board borrow the entire
$4,000. the amount In excess OF the
Is. 500 now required to be used for
"other purposes" as the contingency
should arise from time to time. The
resolution carried.
Then the other resolution, pro-
viding for the raising OF money out
side the $4,000 limit, came up for
discussion.
would II be wise for us to give
our notes as security for the repay
ment OF this money!" Inspector Bur-
ton asked Mr. Atkinson.
CAS- wise az II would be for the
city controller to accept them" was
the smiling response.
Then we have no legal authority
TO borrow this money!"
"You have no legal authority, but
1t Is physically possible"
The resolution was put and car
ried without a dissenting vote,
Should the Board OF Education re-
fuse to repay this money, which, OF
course, 10 most unlikely, the city
would have a merry time trying 10
collect IL. 81
Inspector Jeffries offered resolu.
ton providing that $1,000 be taken
from the George school fund to pro-
vide FIRE escapes where the state fac
tory inspectors have demanded them,
particularly on the Logan and Tap
pan schools. He pointed out that, In
the Logan school, the furnaces are To-
Gated directly under the main stair.
way, and during the cold weather IL
has been necessary to crowd" them
to such an extent that they have be
come warped and twisted. Should a
fire break cut the sta4F#asIweaId-b
the FIRST to go and all escape would
be cut of except by the windows.
Inspector Burton said he did not
recall that the factory inspectors had