Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1915-05-07
EXAMINERS REPORT
ON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Find That Financial Affairs Are
Now Being Handled in an
Efficient Manner

l.. ID. Brown and John NJ. Rum
nell, representing the State Bureau
of Inspection and Supervision of Pub
lie Offices, last March completed an
examination of the finances of the
Pullman school district, No. SO, COW
ering the period from July /, 1912,
to June 30, 1914. Their report
shows the following important
facts:
On July 1. 1912, the district had
outstanding bonds to the amount of
$25, 1000 and warrants to the amount
of $3529.06, total Indebtedness of
$2S, 529.06. On that date the dis
trict had in the general fund a credit
of $13,643.44, leaving a net indebt-
edness of $14,S86.
On June 80, 1914, the district had
outstanding $4,000 in bonds and
$9799.73 in warrants, total indebt-
edness of $59,799.73. On the same
date the district had credits of
$3110.29, in the general fund,
S600.23 in the building fund and
$371.32 in the sinking fund, a total
of $4081.S4, leaving a net indebt-
edness of $55,717S9.
In their remarks, EN- bodied in the
report, the examiners call attention
to the above figures and say:
This increase in Indebtedness is
due in measure to the sale of $685.
600 worth of bonds and also for the
erection of building that drew on
the general fund for more than
$1,000, and which is responsible for
the enormous warrant indebtedness
of said fund at the present time.
There is no question that the
finances of this district have been
handled in an unbusiness-like man
ner, and the tax payers of the dis
trict will have to suffer accordingly.
The drawing of warrants on the
general fund for the payment of
building obligations is in violation of
the law, and should not be done un-
der any circumstances.
THE drawing of warrant No.
1476 on the general fund for $500
in settlem ent for injury to child on
the school grounds was not an obli-
cation against the general fund UNI
less provided for in the annual esti-
mate, which provision was not made.
I'VE note also that the general
fund was drawn upon for payment of
$3.50 bond interest, which was alb
solutely unauthorized.
''The present district clerk, Mr.. B.
f. Campbell, has his records in first
class condition. In fact we have
never examined more complete or
a heater set of records kept by clerks
of districts of this class.
1.-THE warrant issued is based upon
the annual estimate and a complete
account is kept with said estimate
showing at all times just what the
issue has been and how much of said
estimate has been exhausted and the
amount available against which war
rants may still be issued, and this
account is so arranged as to keep a
check on each item of said estimate
as we'll as the estimate as a whole.
"In other words the financial af-
fairs of this district are now being
conducted upon sane principles.
1.-THE same business methods are
being employed as would be expected
of a man in handling his own private
affairs, for which not only the clerk,
but the members of the board are to
be commended"
In summarizing the financial CON
dition of the district the examiners
place the assets, including buildings,
grounds, apparatus and delinquent
taxes at $95,465.45, which gives an
excess of assets over liabilities of
sS5, 665.72.