The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-03-01
LAKELAND CAN
VOTE BONDS FOR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Under Present Tax Valuation 1t
Could Issue Up to SIS, 900, De-
cIares Superintendent Parker In
Statement on School Situation.

Barlow, March l - (SpeciaD C. A..
Parker, superintendent OF Polk cOun-
t. schools, issues Ii statement of his
view of the situation of the Lakeland
schools Mr.. Parker's letter to the
public is as follows; AS the lack of
school room Is the thing OF paramount
importance ut the present time, my
Discussion will be along the lines of
hCw we may proceed at once to give
immediate reliSf to this undesirable
condition. Sec. One. Chap. 6542,
Laws OF Florida. provides that when
- per cent or more of the legally
qualified electors who are freehold
ers present petition to the county
board setting forth in general terms
the amount OF bonds desired to be in g.
sued that the said county board shall
order an election to be held in any
special tax school district to deter
mine whether or not there shall be
issued by said district the bonds pro-
vided for in said resolution. If a ma
jOrity voting in said election shall
vote for bonds it is then the duty
OF the county commissioners to levy
annually tax upon all real and per-
sonal property. railroad, telegraph
and telehhone lines within said spe-
cial tax school district not to exceed
5 miles on the dollar in any one year
sufficient to raise and pay the inter
est on said bonds and sufficient TO
create sinking fund for the paymeh.
OF principal or said bonds at maturity.
By referring TO the valuation of Lake
L.. nd Gnnnia1
will find that the district can now car
ry an additional bond issue Of $4,000
6 per cent thirty-year bonds with no
increase in assessed valuation as
shown by the 1920 taxroll
As to the location and style of
building to be erected, | shall not dis
cuss these items at this time as the
board OF trustees of any special tax
school district together with the
board of public Instruction determine
these matters after the funds have
been provided for as above mentioned.
| am Offering this information at
this time as there seems to be a gen.
eral belisf among the people of Lake
land that Lakeland Special Tax School
district Is already bonded to the limit
and that before any additional I'M
provements in the way Of buildings
ETC.. can be made that 1t will be nee
essary TO await some special leglsla.
tion.
In my opinion with the above au.
thorlzed bond issue. accommodation
can be provided for the Lakeland
school which will not only offer i'm
mediate relief but will take care Of
the situation for some time.
There are many other districts ir
the county whose needs are not as
urgent as that of Lakeland and some
of them are much nearer the statutory
limitation. yet they are taking ad
vantage of the amount authorized ant
will have their buildings and equip
ment ready for the opening of schoo
next term.
The above is based on the records
of the Lakeland Special School dis
trict and bond buyers will not qu@,
ton 1t being safe margin with whicl
to base their bid for the purchase o
the said bond issue and believe II tn,
matter is put to a vote Of the peopl,
OF Lakeland that 1t will go unanimous
ly in favor of the additional issue.
Yours very truly, 4
4 @. A. PARKER,
Huuorfnfendeuk o9 9chonIa