Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-01-08
NOTES BY co. SUPT.

NVjIO " OVl OOO u
Our figures taken two weeks ago
as the school levy were slightly in
correct and we wish to correct them
at this time. We took them from the
lists that were in the hands of the
tax supervisor and auditor The fig
ures as given in the county treasur.
er's Tax Notice of course are the au-
thentic figures. While the total tax
to be collected is only $2,O57.s2 more
for the entire county than we gave
it in our list there are several marked
differences in some districts. In Win
chester District we gave the tax to be
collected as $15,529 when it really is
$14,905.13. In Marie District our fig
ures were in error just 5000. In
Highland District our figures were
$1,000 off. In Lincoln District we
were wrong just $500. Thus our to-
tai error was less than $500. Win
chsster's levy was less $1,433.87 and
the other thres districts were $2100
more. Whether this was mistake
of ours or whether the list we copied
the levies from was incorrect we are
not prepared to state. Another thing
we did not take into consideration
was the grain tax and Moneys and
Credits Tax which every district
must take above their levy whether
they want it or not. THIS totals ST.
471.21. So while our total error is
$2,057.82 by deducting this tax from
it our figuers are only $586.61 wrong.
We wish to state right here that
we intend to keep this Office out of
politics if possible and politics is not
OUR motive in publishing these lists
but to save the taxpayers the trouble
of coming in and having us explain
to them that the school levy is not
the entire fault of the high taxes. 1t
is increased, it is true, almost 20 per
cent, but this does not account for all
the high tax. The school tax has al
ways been the highest single tax in
the county and if it were to increase
in proportion to what other taxes have
it would have to increase about 100
per cent more. We know that there
is to be considerable agitation about
the cause of high taxes and we are
not going. to attempt to; state what
the cause is as we do not believe the
county superintendent should meddle
with politics, but we are going to pro-
tect ourselves and the school direct
ors when anyone states that the cause
of the great increase in the taxes is
laid at the doors of the schools.
We wish every taxpayer would
compare our figures of two weeks
ago with those of the Treasurer's Tax
List and see where the error is in his
particular district. OF course practic-
ally every district will be few dol
lars off but outside of the districts
mentioned there are no marked errors.
Our other figures are absolutely cor
rect and what each district actually
asked for but some may have tried
to get more than the law allowed and
in all other cases in order that the
levies might be made in actual num-
Der of mills or tenths of mills it was
necessary to make the tax lists from
a few dollars to forty or fifty dollars
more or less than the district called
for in order to more easily figure out
each mans tax from the valuation as
given by the assessor.
We are sure that the 20 per cent
increase in school taxes is actually due
to the raise in teachers salaries for
the raise in salary is at least 20 per
cent over last year.
It is our sad duty to chronicle this
week the death of one of the oldest
teachers, in point of service, in this
county, Alloys Nsrgert. Mr.. Nergert
was teaching in Strasburg Wien we
first went into office in January, 1909.
He taught there several years and
several years in other rural schools
of the county. With thirty-one years
of service in this country he was draw
ling salary Of $75 month. NUM-
ficent reward! May he fare better
in the world to come. Mr.. Nergert
was born in Westfalen, Germany, Jan
uary 18th, 1861. His entire life was
spent in the teaching profession. At
the time of his death, he was also or
ganist in the Catholic Church. He
taught fifteen years in this state,
most Of it in Emmons county. It is
indeed with sadness that we note the
passing Of this man. True to his
duties as q teacher and wrapped up
in his profession.
School No. 2, Lincoln District, clos
ed for two weeks vacation, Dec.
24tk with a srlccessfl11 nropram.