The citizen., 1919-02-27


may do much TO bring about the de-
sired results by adopting a method
Of distributing the county funds
which will reward local effort,
much as the plan proposed on the
preceding pages for the distribu-
tion Of State funds would stimulate
county taxation.
The present law provides the
method Of distributing the state
fund, in general way, but IL does
not say in what manner the funds
provided by the county shall be
distributed. As a means Of utilizing
the principle Of help to those who
are willing to help themselves the
following scheme is proposed.
Let the County Board ascertain
each year how much money raised
by the county levy can be set apart
for the payment Of teachers. after
providing the necessary funds for
building, repair, and general run
ming expenses. Then let them adopt
a method Of distributing this money
10 the sub-districts that will not
entirely deprive any district Of
county aid, but one which will ma
terially reward local taxation. The
following plan is proposed:
To each sub-dislrict levying no
tax for payment Of teachers. one
Unit Of distribution.
To each sub-district levying 10
cents for payment OF teachers, two
units 0f distribution.
To each sub-district levying 10
cents for payment Of teachers, three
units Of distribution.
To each sub-district lcvying 20
cents for payment of teachers, four
units Of distribution.
To each sub-district levying %
cents for. payment Of teachers, five
units Of distribution.
To make this plan more easily
understood LET us assume a county
with ~ sub-districts and county
fund Of Si.5OO 10 distribute upon
this basis. and that the districts
made levies as follows:
Twenty districts, no levy. each
receiving one unit Of distribution.
20 units.
Thirty districts, 10 cent levy.
each receiving two units Of distri-
button. 60 units.
Twenty districts. 10 cents levy.
each receiving three units of dis
tribution, GO units.
Six districts, 20 cents levy, each
receiving four units Of distribution.
- units.
Four districts. % cents levy. each
receiving five units Of distribution
% units.
Total units Of distribution. iSi.
by dividing isi. the number of
units, into $500, the amount TO be
distributed. the money unit Of dis
trihution would be S2ii5. This
would bring the following results:
To each district levying no tax.
one unit or s2ii5.
To each district lcvying 10 cents
tax. two units or $3.50.
To each district lcvying IS cents
tax. three units or S73.35.
To each district levying 20 cents
tax. four units or $3.50.
To each district levying 25 cents
tax. five units or Si2225.
If it seemed best to make less
difference between the districts
levying tax and those levying no
TAX. the latter could each be assign
ed two or more and, with an in
crease Of one unit for each 80 cents
increase in levy.
This premium upon effort does
not favor the rich neighbor as
against the poor, but rather favors
the poor, because il is upon the
rate Of taxation, and not upon the
money raised. Like the method
proposed for distribution of state
tax it favors the poor. for the rich
ncighborhood would be able TO Sc
cure an ample school fund by a
smaller levy. so that the larger part
Of the county tax would go to the
district that was poor but willing.