Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-01

lion. Since the first of the year,
thousands of head Of cattle have
been removed from the state, and /
estimate there will be a further
shrinkage in the assessments of
at least five million dollars. This
is a serious condition and prompts
the suggestion that we should
carefully consider all expenditures
of public nature. It is true that
schools are first and must be main
tanned at all costs-that this will
be done in the state of New Mex
leo, / have no doubt 1t is equally
true that when taxpayers are una
Bile to meet their tax bills that we
economize on every item. 1t is
one thing to levy d large tax, and
still another to collect 1t. 1t is
hard to say what our collections
will be from the 1922 rolls. In
my opinion, conditions viii not be
better unless we are favored with
better climatic conditions.
Bond Issues
1t has come to the notice OF this
office that in many school districts
bonds are sold, presumably at u
figure permitted by law. You no
doubt are familiar with the law
which provides tnat no issue of a
municipal district shall be sold at
a price of less than $50 on the
dollar, ana rural schools not less
than $50 on the dollar. Quite
few sales reported are above the
minimum fixed by law. but an
analysis Of the sale will disclose
the fact that a commission is paid
to the bonding house purchasing
the bonds, usually per cent of
the issue, and when this commits
sion is taken into consideration,
the net amount received for the
bonds is less than provided by stat
ute. In one case the municipal
school district sold bonds netting
$50 on the dollar, and there nre
two cases of rural districts where
the sale netted SS4 on the dollar.
These sales, of course, are contrary
to law, and unless we have some
supervision and control, this prac-
tice will continue. Again we can
cite instances where county super.
intendents have taken upon them
selves the authority to make pur-
cbases which can only be made
by a resolution of the county board
Of education. Not only have they
attempted 20 make purchases, but
have also issued warrants in pay
ment Of bills for goods not yet de-
liEered. | am certain that none
of you approve such tactics.
trust that you will stand fast for
the budget system and supervision.
Cash BaIances--Comparlsop
IN last year, the total amount
of cash on hand to the credit of
the maintenance or general fund
in the rural and city schools was
$S77723.05, and in this year the
balance is $1,16S,14C.36, an in
crease of over 200 per cent. Last
year the outstanding warrants were
$306,69S.4t and in this year, $101,.
453.73. Analyzlng the figures we
find that the rural schools had
balance in 1921 of $2S5,0S2.SS; in
1872, $790,725.24.
Outstanding warrants in 1921
were, $220, 555.7G; 1922, s45,-
910.3S.
The city schools had n balance
in 1921. aggregating s92,640.22;
1892, $G57,.15.12.
Outstanding figures in 1921
were, $SG,162.65; 1922, $55,54S.35.
These figures show a large i'm
provement over last year and also
proves the value Of the present
system.
The rural schools made monthly
reports to the Educational Auditor
and all Of them remained within
the budget allowances. On the
other hand, the city schools did
not make monthly reports and
many OF these exceeded the ap-
proved allowances.
In this connection, call your
to the budget law enact
ed by the Oregon legislature, des-
ignated chapter 20S, laws of Ore
gon, 1921. There are some amend
ments, but the act taken as
whole, is very COMPREHENSIVE set
forth. and in my opinion, should
be adopted by New Mexico.
In conclusion l wish to thank
all of you for the cooperation
which this office has had with
the school authorities. ] found
that where once a budget was thor
oughly discussed, there was no
misunderstanding, and the opposi-
tlcn to the budget act comes from
those who do not understand the
law, and some who don't want to
understand IL.