The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1922-03-30
BOARD EXPLAINS
BONDING ELECTION
Tells of Need for Refunding Is.
sue. and Shows Safeguards
Against Increase of Tax

Pointing out that the election
for issuance of $4,000 in bonds
to refund school warrants, which
will be held Saturday, April 8,
will merely extend this indebted
ness over a period of years, max
ing it easier to retire, statement
of explanation concerning the is
sue was given out today by the
Lynden School Board.
The Board emphasized the fact
that no new Indebtedness will be
created if the bonds are carried.
and told of economies that will
be put into effect next year to
make a saving of $4,000 in sal
aries alone.
The following is the board S
statement:
II Mills Is Limit
In connection with the school
District Bond Issue which is pro-
posed by the Board of Directors
in order to fund $4,000 of the
outstanding warrant of the Dis
trict, certain statements have
been made to the effect that II
such Bonds were issued the Dir
ectors would have opportunity TO
again create a warrant indebted
ness up to the same amount. To
correct such impression we wish
to call the attention of the voters
of the district to the following:
Article 8 Section 6 of the Con-
stitution of the State Of Wash
ington provides that no school
district may incur an indebted
ness over D per cent of the as
sessed valuation of the taxable
property therein. In pursuance
to this provision the Legislature
passed several statutes.
Section 266 of the Code of
Public Instruction provides that
any Board of Directors Of a Dis
trict of the Second Class shall
report to the County
Commissioners an estimate in de-
tail of the amount of funds re-
quired by their district and the
County Commissioners are then
required to levy such amount
after deducting the estimated
receipts from State and County
apportionments. But such levy
shall not in any one year exceed
10 mills.
EInctopc NfnSt Vote
Section 266 further provides
that if greater expenditure in
any one current school year shall
be deemed necessary, the question
shall be submitted .o:~ta vote OF
the electors of the district. No
tax however, shall exceed per
cent of the taxable property or
said district.
Section 7, Chapter 100, Laws
of 1909, authorize the County
Commissioners to levy one mill
extra tax in any School District
which maintains vocationai
school in accordance with the act
of the United States Congress,
and approved by the State Board
of Vocational Education.
Sections 353 and 354, Code of
Public Instruction, provide that
Directors cannot create an indebt-
edness in excess of l 1s per cent
of the taxable property in the
district as shown by the last
assessed valuation, unless the
voters by a three fifths vote,
EXPRESSLY authorize them to do So.
and then they cannot create an
Indebtedness to exceed 5 per cent
Ii such taxable property as shown
sby the last assessment roll.
AS a final check and safeguard
the legislature quite recently pas
sed an act expressly prohibiting
directors, and declaring it TO be
unlawful for any board of dir
ectors to contract Indebtedness
against their district in any one
year in any sum or sums exceed
ing the aggregate of the amount
due said district during the year
from State funds, the amount or
School District tax levied for the
wear and the estimated receipts
from other sources.
Can't Create More Debt
In view of these provisions OF
our constitution and laws of the
State, it would seem very evident
that the Directors in any one year
cannot levy more than IL mills
tax. In addition to this they can
levy not to exceed 10 mills ad-
ditional if so voted by the cleo
tors of the district.
Furthermore, they cannot
create an indebtedness. whether
II be bond or warrant indebted
ness, to exceed " per cent OF
the assessed valuation of the dls.
trict, and if expressly authorized
by the electors, not to exceed 0
per cent thereof. Lastly they are
expressly prohibited from exceed
ing their budget for any one year
Formerly the boards issued the
warrants, but under the law as
it is today, the County Audlto,
issues the warrants and keeps
the books for the district, ano
under recent rulings and instruc'
tions, the County Auditor in nc
I case will allow directors to ex
kceed the budget.
Taking these facts now IN con
nection with the condition of oai
district il is to be borne in mine
that this district has had in the
mast a warrant debt of approxim
ote,v $4,000 created severa