The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-07
'STEARNEs FURNISHES
HOUSE INFORMATION
Report shows That Cost Of Disburslnv
School Funds Is Smaller Than
Thought.
TOTAL REVENUE s7,aoi. 7ss. 81
County and City. Treasures Receive
Commissions From State. school
Funds Amounting to Sf3f ,5o7.55
Each Year.

In compliance with request made
in a resolution adopted last Saturday 4
by the House of Delegates, asking for
information relating to the cost ok
dishursing the State school funds, n
paper was prepared yesterday after-S
noon by r. c. Stearnes, superinten-a
dent of public instruction.
In the paper Superintendent
Stearnes point out that the total reve-
nue. of the public schools for the
session ending June 80, 1915, waa
S7,201,76S43, while the amount paid
in fees or commissions to county and
CITY treasurers was s13f.597.77. The
last named sum includes all fees to
county and city treasurers for coiiect~
ing and disbursing local school funds
and also the commissions for cisours-
ing state funds The total school
revenue is composed of State funds
amounting to s2,170.s96.27. and OF
local funds which amounts to $5,oso,-
772.16.
The report submitted to the House
by Superintendent Stearnes follows.
Mr. Stearncs' Letter.
To the Honorable, the House OF Deie-
gates Richmond. Va:
II affords me pleasure to furnish the
information concerning fees srequest-
ed in your resolution OF Saturday.
March 4, 1916, which reads as foi-
lows:
whereas. there is paid out by the
State. cities and counties annuahy tn
sum OF approximately st'ooo'Voo 1of
public education: and,
whereas, II is reported that tina
sum of approximately 100000 ~ de-
Quoted by fee officers for disbursine
this fund equivalent to nearly per
cent?
Resolved, That the Second Auditor
and Superintendent OF Pubic lnetFue-
ton be- and they are hereby. directe&
TO report to this House information
In their possession relating to the
cost of disbursing the school funds.
The total revenue of the public
schools for the session ending June
30, 1915. was S7.201. 76S.43. 1t wouid
appear. however. that your estimata
of the sum deducted by fee onicers
for disbursing this fund, to-wit: 5000
/ 900 is greatly in excess of the amount
actually paid.
Our reports for the year In ques-
+ion show that the total sum paid
in fees or commissions to county and
CITY treasurers the only officers who
receiye fees or commissions out OF
school funds was s131,597.77. and ~
| append hereto a statement in detail
| giving the exact figures for each
county ana CITY. ~
The sum of s131.5s7.77. mentioned
| above includes all fees to county and
CITY treasurers for collecting and dis
bursting local school funds and also
the commissions for disbursing stats
! funds. The commission allowed coun-
| ty or city treasurers for disbursin&
/ State funds may not exceed one per-
centum upon the amount received, to
be determined by the county or city
| school board.
The total school revenue OF s1.2ul,zs
7es.4s is composed of State funds,
s2.170.s96.27, and OF local funds. $S.-s
! 772.16. This statement does not
embrace the fees paid county ana
city treasurers for collecting such por-s
ton of the State funds az they are
| required to collect. and for that IN
formation I respectfully refer the,
honorable House OF Delegates TO the
| Auditor of Public Accounts, as the
state Board OF Education receives
/ only the net proceeds of State schnasa
| funds, and all fees or commissions
for collecting such funds are paid By
/ the Auditor of Public Accounts
Respectfully.
| r. c. STEARNES.
Supt. Public Instruction.