The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-04-04
GRANT COUNTY
SCHOOLS CLOSED
OUT OF FUNDS
Tax Shortage Leaves
Board Without Means
to Pay Teachers

The public schools Of Grant county
have been ordered closed by the
county school board, because OF lack
OF funds with which TO pay runnlnr
expenses. The schools Of silver civ
are not affected by the order. witch,
however, applies 20 all other public
schools IN the county. Unexpected
shortage In tax revenues ~ given by
the board as the reason for ttr order
Grant county Il the richest county In
the state. IN assusscd valuation.
The silver city Enterprise out
lines the situation IA follows.
The reason for this unexpected
and unusual action In that the school
funds OF the county arc exhausted
and u IL not possible 20 borrow the
money necessary 10 carry on the
schools FOR the ten wcckh OF the
torn remaining. other cNpcdients
were suggested and Investigated.
various prominent men were called
into conaultation hut the closing OF
the schools vas found 10 be inevitable.
II was hoped hat by some means u
would be possible 20 continue for two
weeks In order TO give the teachers
some notice, but this even could not
be arranged.
The shortage OF funds WIS not
due to one but 20 a elimination OF
unfortunate circumstances. A deficit
Is not an unusual thing toward the
end OF the term but this year he
collection OF taxes WIS delayed and
less than had boen expected. the state
allotment Of FUNDS vas smaller mar
had been expected. the time for pay
mcnt OF grazing fees. which 40 into
the school funds, was advanced until
August, the mine output tax has been
held up and finally the poll taxes.
which were expected to produce some
$4,000 will o 10 very little ow-
inE to the shut down OF the camps.
With all sources Of revenue reduced
the aggregate was 30 large that an
immediate shutdown was the only
action possible. While the unusual
conditions prevailing this year could
moi ave been forsccn Il is evident
That the levy made FOR school pur.
poses was TOO iuw-appnrcntly 90
margin was lett for emergencies.
The laws OF Now Mexico DO not
permit school boards 70 borrow
money and while small deficits have
been taken care Of simply by tht
banks cashing the warrants and hold.
INK them. the present emergency
could not De met In that way.
Tho board called into consultn.
ito W D. Murray. Frank W. Volactt
Clarence Bnync. county treasurer. pr
D. \. Carrier of Santa Rita and T.. W
Sawyer ~ Tyrone. Tho course docid
ed upon was Boa tho opinion OF an. th'
one that would act eventually TO m
best Interests of ala. Even were SOM
mcihUd ui raising money 60 meet th'
emergency available, q might Just D.
u-ustlouiug the diuiCulty since mo- Ina
mediate imp oyomcut In financial
conditions o. Ia sight.
The favorable aspects OF the mat
t,r liC in prospect that this drastl
action will enable the board to cnto
the second half OF the year with cN
s'llUut pruhpDttH Of carrying on a..
schools us usual THAI tho tNodu
from the camps. especially Tyrone. J.
go great that tho attendance ~ &C.
duCcd Go 20 minimum In amy even
aud that financial conditions haN.
ntoDss,tatUd "a good many uf th, dido
pupils iu outlying districts lcayinI
school Co work"