San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-20
DENY PLEDGES
VIOLATED BY
SCHOOL BOARD
Business Manager Claims
Commissioner Pfeiffer
Is Wrong.
PLANNED so CENT TAX
Quotes Campaign Litera.
ture in Refutition
of Criticism.
PLANNED so CENT TAX

In fixing the school tax rate at 60
cents, an increase Of 10 cents over
that of last year, the San Antonio
school board has violated no pledges
made during the $2.000,000 school
bond campaign last June, but on the
contrary has done what the school
board had told the voters would be
necessary, according TO Paul ScholZ,
business managerSf the school board.
The statement is in reply TO a claim
made before the city council Monday
by Commissioner Pfeiffcr that the
board had violated its promise.
Campaign literature circulated at
that time contained no promise that
the maintenance tax would not be
raised, Mr.. SchOlz AYERS, but on the
contrary a bulletin issued by the
school board pointed out that an in
crease in the maintenance tax would
be necessary.
Before the tax rate was fixed by
the school board the members re-
freshed their memories by reading the
campaign promises, Mr.. Scholz said.
In a bulletin issued by the school
board during the bond campaign last
June, the following pledges were
made:
Forecasted Tax OF so Cents.
THAT it will not increase the tax
rate next year MAY, 1929 more than
10 cents, making a 60-cent total rate
instead of the present JO-cent.
That it will not levy an increase
of maintenance till the money is ac-
tually needed. and that the maximum
of ~ cents for maintenance will not
arise until about May, 1925, when
all improvements are in operation.
That it will sell only S1,OOO,0OO
of the bonds the first year, so ms to
tighten the interest burdens on the
taxpayer till all the money is needed. y
There is no statement in this
pledge. Mr.. Scholz said. to indicate
that the maintenance tax would not
be increased. Due TO that fact that
additional teachers were required to
maintain affiliations. and TO the fact
of the growth Of the scholastic pop
ulation. an increased maintenance tax
of > cents was required,
Must Have Sinking Fund.
Criticism has been directed at the
school board for fixing the tax TO
care for the sinking fund and interest
on the $2.000.000 bond issue, since
only S1,O00,000 of the bonds have
been sold" Mr.. Scholz said. 'The
commissioner of taxation has main
tanned that only 100000 is necessary
10 meet the sinking fund and inter
est. Such is not the case. Since the
interest will cover n period of one
and one-half years the total amount
necessary will be S125,000. In com
putting the amount of income that
wouli be derived by the tax rate Of
o cents for the 1922 bond issue. the
commissioner of taxation is basing his
figures on 100 per cent collections,
when as a matter Of fact. the taxes
are about 90 per cent collectible.
ron January /, $4,000 interest
was paid by the school board. About
S21. 900 was made available for the
payment by an overdraft. This de-
ficiency must be met. Next July.
$4,000 of the bonds mature. Interest
for the year will be $4,000 in addi-
ton to the interest already paid by
overdraft."
Last year the tax rate fixed by the
school board TO care for the sinking
funds and interest on the bond issues
of 1903. 1907. 1918. 1916 and 1919,
was 0 cents This year the rate was
reduced TO cents. This rate 70 {
cents together with the 9 cents re-
quired for the 1922 issue, makes a to-
tai of 10 cents required to meet bond
issue requirements. The maintenance
tax this year is A cents, an increase
of 3 cents over that Of last year.