The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-04-27
SCHOOL FUND WILL BE
NEARLY $4,000 SHORT
General Fund Overdrawn More
Than $3OOO.OO0 With Stacks
Of Bills Still Unpaid. Hay.
ing Difficulty.

Despite the statement made pre-
vious to election that the city Ar
ances were in the "best condition
they have been for years" the city
council and the school board are now
in dilemma as to how they are goinc:
to pull through the present year.
based on a statement made to the
Tuesday night meeting of the Coun-
Gil by the City Treasurer rs Of April
Oath, 1922, as to the condition Of
the several city funds.
According to this statment the
Vocational Fund was overdrawn in
the amount of $692 .68, the General
Fund was overdrawn in the amount
of $3087.59, the school fund contained
balance of $655O.17, the library
fund contained balance Of $i330.6l
and the Bond and Interest Fund COM
tained balance of $6225.s0.
Taking up the General Fund it Il
learned from the City Clerks Office
there is on file and allowed by the
Council bills in the amount Of up
wards of 100000 at the present
time. which includes claims against
the city for the months Of February,
March, and April, and in addition to
this there are a number Of bills
which have been filed but which have
not been allowed, amounting to an
additional sum, so that the General
Fund of the city, taking into account
the overdraft, the bills ordered paid
and the bills on file will show this
fund short in the amount Of nearly.
$1,000. 90 at the present time, with
no money coming into the city
treasury until the next tax payment
time.
The school fund Is in worst ccndi--
ton. The Treasurer's statement
shows this fund to have a balance on
hand of $655O17, but the City Clerk
informs US that there still remains
to be paid three installments Of
teachers and janitors wages amount
ing to $15,930.O0, to say nothing OF
the other bills for supplies, fuel.
lights, etc., and the estimate is that
this fund will show shortage Of
over $4,000, in order to complete the
present school year.
The Library fund shows a balance
of 1880. 81, and this fund is in fairly
good shape. =,
The bond and interest fund is COLI
lected for a specific purpose and the
council has no control over this fund,
the amount being levied to pay in
terest and principal on bonded in-
debtedness. x
The Council was informed that It
was impossible to borrow money To-
cally and it was voted to have the
Mayor negotiate a loan from the
Teachers retirement fund in order
to tide the city over it difficulties.
A good deal has been heard in the
past about the extravaganza OF foruf-
er school boards. During the year
1919 there was levied by direct taxes
for school purposes the sum Of $780,
500, and during this year the school
board managed to operate and pay
their bills.
During 1920 there was levied Tor
school purposes the sum of $S7 ,06S,-
AZ, and at the end of the school year
| in 1921 the school fund showed An
overdraft of $3,326.5l, with all bills
before the board paid.
For the 1921-I922 year there was
levied by the present council the SUM
of 100000, and according to the
information given out at the City
Clerks office this fund will show m
overdraft this year of upwards Of
$1O,O0O.e0 at the close of the present
school year.
The amounts above given as being
levied for the school fund contain
only the amount collected by direct
/ taxes. In addition to this there was
received from the state each year
an additional sum, known as state
aid for the several departments Of
the schools. Without taking this
amount into consideration the cost
of the school for the past year would
exceed $5S,0O0OO to which should be
added the state aid which city officers
estimate was somewhere between
$4,000 and $4,000.