The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-18
Combined Levy From A
Sources Is S1.725.
Only Decrease Is Made by City
Commissioners.
WANT MAXIMUM FOR SCHOOLS
Board of Education Would
Have $875,OOO in 1915.
May Ask Legislature to Raise
Their Levies.

1t is practically a certainty that the
combined state. county. Topeka and
board of education tax levy for 1914
will be s1.725 as against $1.75 for
1913.
The city has made slight decrease
in the levy since last year. the state
and county levies remain the same,
and there is little doubt but that the
board of education will make no
change. A board meeting was called
for $3.50 o'clock Monday evening, but
as only two members reported, no Of
fetal action was taken: w. E. Atcni-
son, chairman of the finance commit
tee. and L. NJ. Penwell, the two mem
bers in question, after going over the
situation with M. c. Holman. clerk OF
the board, concluded that nothing
short of the seven mill levy would do.
An effort will be made to get the full
board together soon, and, the recon-
mendation of the chairman of the fl
nance committee will undoubtedly be
adopted.
Levy From All Sources.
This will make the tax levy stand as
follows:
State of Kansas ..............0 DIP
Shawnee county ..............0 .23
City of Topeka ............." O.675
Board of Education ......... .0.7O
Rate on 500 valuation. .$1.725
1875, 234.37 for the city schools.
The levy as proposed will be d.
vided among the respective funds as
follows: General fund, mills: build
ing fund, mill; interest fund, n
mill; sinking fund, " mill.
Cost of Maintenance.
The board will go the full limit al
lowed by law in the general fund,
and this will fall more than $4,000
short of meeting the requirements.
1t is estimated that the general ex-
pense Of maintaining the schools will
be $317,271.02. Deductin6 from this
amount $40, SD4.69 that should be re-
ceived through tuition, interest on
daily balances, state and county dlvl-
dends, cts, will leave $267,376.33 to
be raised. The levy Of mills will
raise but 1865, 1874.
One mill will pr luce $500 for
the building fund. There is 22,891.O3
on hand in the fund. making a total
amount available of $77,924. 1t Is
estimated that with the remodelinS
and addition to the high school, the
remodeling of Grant school and neces-
sary improvements next year, there
should be $4,000 available.
Ask State for More.
1t is probable that the legislature
will be asked to raise the maximum
levies in The general and building
funds, as the money raised Is now not
sufficient to meet the needs of the
Topeka schools.
Heavy demands are made upon the
general fund because of the growth or
the schools. Next school year there
will be an increase in teachers salaries
alone Of $4,000 but this is due largely to
the set salary schedule. There is an
automatic increase in salaries until
maximum salary is reached. Next year
s211,547 will be expended in teachers
salaries. according to the estimate.
A half mill will raise $21 ,516-in both
interest and the sinking funds.
Indebtedness of Schools.
There is bonded indebtedness of
1923 661 on which $22.9O4 in interest is
paid. Next year an 1885 bond issue of
$50 600 will fall due, and they will be
retired by the school board. The state
holds SIC, 900 worth of these bonds. and
unknown persons the balance of $50, 900.
They have been bearing per cent in
terest. Since Topeka took over school
district No. 102 a little $500 bond of that.
district has been paid each year.
In speaking OF the bonded indebted
ness. W. Z. Atchison of the board said:
Pm in favor of paying off not less
than $4,000 a year.