The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-05-26
Statement Issued Showing Necessity
for the Special Election Which
Will Be Held Next Mon
day, May 81
CHANGE Is MADE
BY RECENT Law
Increased Levy, if Needed, Must
Be Authorized Before Excise
Board Meets Danger Of
Cutting School Term

The Chickasha board of education
makes the following statement as to
why II ordered the special election to
be held next Monday, May 81. to vote
on the question OF authorizing the
county excise board to increase. IL
necessary. the tax levy for maintain
ing the schools next year. above )
mills, by not to exceed one mill.
The excise board does not meet un-
til the last Saturday in July and the
total assessed valuation of the dis
trict for next year cannot be ascer-
tanned before that time. Heretofore,
II the assessed valuation OF a district
was not sufficient to raise the amount
necessary to run the schools for the
next year by mill levy the excise
board would order a special election
held in August TO see If the voters
would approve increasing the levy
above mills. the legal limit, Of the
excise board without such approval.
The last legislature, in order to have
the question settled as early as possi-
BILE before the commencement of the
next term of school, changed the
method of holding this election In
cities so as to require boards OF edu-
cation that anticipate a possible
shortage of revenue to hold an elec.
ton in May to confer power upon
the excise heard to provide for such
shortage up to the amount specified
In the election call, should 1t actually
occur. Manifestly, the board Of edu-
cation at this time cannot tell exactly
how much of levy will be required
for next year. That cannot be known
until the assessed valuation of the dis
trict is determined In the latter part
Of July. The board believes that
the possibility OF its becoming
necessary to reduce the length Of the
school term by reason Of decrease
in the assessed valuation of the dis
trict is matter of such vital import
ance to all the citizens that they
shouN be given an opportunity to pro-
vide against II before 1t is too late.
Therefore the board has put the ques-
tlon up to the voters by ordering an
election held next Monday. Let it be
understood that the board does not at
at this time say that any increase
above mills will be necessary. 1t is
only taking precautions against such
a contingency.
Although it has rever yet been nee
essary to increase the levy above 8
mills, and only twice since statehood
has it been necessary to levy even :
mills, yet II II a fact that the assessed
valuation of the district has been
steadily decreasing while the cost OF
maintaining the schools has been
steadily increasing. The valuation fof
the current year is more than six hun
dred thousand dollars less than last
year, while the school population and
actual attendance in school IS the
greatest in the history of the city.
Six years ago the graduating class OF
the high school numbered eleven,
while this year ii is thirty-nines The
majority of cities in the state have
for years been voting an increased
tax. The following figures from ten
cities taken at random shows the levy
for the year Just closing. the first
column being the number of mills
levied for maintenance. the second the
number ofsmlls levied for sinking
fund and interest. the third the total
levy. and the fourth the total amount
appropriated for maintenance.
VA. tx.1xn rbr